1990-02, Dulcimer Players News Vol. 16 No. 2 by Dulcimer Players News

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL FOR DULCIMER ENTHUSIASTS

$3.00 April - June, 1990

Vol. 16, No. 2

Resource

Issue!

1990

Spring/Summer

Events

Calendar

Dulcimer

Clubs

Directory

Plus... **â&#x20AC;˘

Remembering

Stanley

Intervieiv

with

Club

Hicks Maggie

News,

Arrangements

News

Sansone Neivs, and

New more...

Contents

Reader Forum

Networking

Music Exchange

News & Notes

Anna Sclfridge

Musical Reviews Events

Carrie Crompton

Technical Dulcimer Euro Tunes

Linda Lowe Thompson *> Sam Rizzetta

Columnists

Technical Dulcimer

Dulcimer Clubs

Fretted Dulcimer

David T. Moore

fl Varvindar Friska An Interview With Maggie Sansone

Sam Rizzetta

Anna Selfridge

Hammer Dulcimer

Madeline MacNeil, Editor Post Office Box 2164 Winchester, Virginia 22601 703/465-4955

Jody Marshall

Judy Ireton

Lorraine Lee

Hammer Dulcimer

Linda Lowe Thompson

Sociable Dulcimer

What's New/Musical Reviews

Paul Furnas

Carrie Crompton

Dulcimer Clubs *• Judy Ireton

David Moore

Dulcimer Clubs Directory

EvenLs/Ncws & Notes

fl Beginners Comer: Over the Waterfall

fl Christmas Lullaby

Barbara Jane Zaino

Euro Tunes

Anna Selfridge

Music Editor

Stanley Hicks ^ Jim Thompson

Doug Bcrch

Fretted Dulcimer

What's New** Carrie Crompton

Design, Typesctuing & Production

Classifieds

Lorraine Lee

Jeff Lcfkowitz

Illustration

Marty Brown Walnut Springs Graphics, Inc.

Subscriptions

Joan Nauer

Office Assistant Pat McKclvy

Stanley Hicks, see page 37

The Dulcimer Players News is published four times each year. Issues arc mailed (via 3rd class) to subscribers in January, April, July and October. Subscriptions in the United Stales are $12 per year, S22 for two years. Canada: S14 per year. Other countries (surface mail): S14, (air mail/Europe): Si6, (air mail/Asia): Si8. In the United Slates a reduced price of S8.25 (suggested) is available for people who are unable to pay the full subscription price because of financial difficulties. Recent back issues are usually available. Cost per recent back issue is $4.00 in the US (includes postage).

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D e a r

Spring 1990 ? l

R e a d e r s

/ _ arly in January, at the encouragement of Seth and close friends, I took a week off and went on an undirected retreat at a Trappist Monastery (Holy Cross Abbey) on the Shenandoah River near Berryville, Virginia. I did not take any DPN related arucles/arrangcmcnts/interviews to study; instead I brought several books in progress and borrowed some from the monastery library. I spent my week walking on the peaceful grounds and reading. An Elizabeth Arden spa could not have pampered the four of us on retreat (in our needs for quiet and reflection) any better. For about a dozen years I've sung for midnight mass on Christmas Eve at Holy Cross, and know several of the brothers (including one who is a long-time friend) very well. I had the chance to visit and chat with a few of them during my stay, which added to my enjoyment. As the moon was full, my night-time rambles (I seemed to need very little sleep) didn't require a flashlight. Even though I took no work with me, I did think about you on a few of my walks, and I came to some conclusions about our future. Several of you speak with me throughout the year about the coverage of the hammered and mountain dulcimers. Invariably a mt. dulcimer player will come up at a festival and say that I devote way too much time to the needs of hammered dulcimer players. Almost without fail, a few days later a hammered dulcimer player will tell me that his or her informal survey of the past number of issues shows that I'm prejudiced toward mt, dulcimer players. This scenario can be repeated with players preferring traditional music vs. those who only want contemporary. Or easy arrangements over difficult. Or Irish over something else. Or... f

Before I began working with the DPN alone in 1978, a decision had been made to include both dulcimers. I have no real idea why, but think economical factors were part of it. Through the years I've considered separating the two instruments, but following are some of my reasons for not doing so. 1. Some features, slightly altered, would need to be in both publications. The Events Calendar and Clubs Directory are prime examples. 2.1 would not have time to do justice to two publications. 3. But if I did, what about people who wanted to subscribe to both? I couldn't run similar events calendars in both journals; that would be wasted space for someone choosing to receive both publications.

4. We've built afinancialbase over the years where we can get graphic arts help and pay (however small the amount) contributors. Things would change. So, what can we do to help both groups of people within reason? From now on we'll remind our writers to be aware of all DPN readers. In other words, an article about a mountain dulcimer player will have, in addition to tips for that instrument, ideas that can benefit us all as musicians and enthusiasts. We will continue to have general interest articles (such as the one about world music in the January 1990 DPN) and continue to add nondulcimer, but compatible, events to our calendars. Arrangements for mountain dulcimer will continue to have musical notation attached so hammered dulcimer players can join in. Mountain dulcimer players will need to follow Lorraine Lee's columns about adapting notation for tablature! And, we'll be adding pages to Dulcimer Players News as our subscription base grows, which it has been doing nicely recently. In early February, on a beautiful day, Sam Rizzetta took me flying in his Gruman 2-seat airplane. This wasn't our first flying trip together, but it seemed to be one of reflection for both of us. We flew from Winchester down the valley (over Seth's and my home) close to Woodstock, then over one hump of the Massanuttcn Mountain to the Fort Valley. The graceful sweep of the hills and hollows brought peace and chance for thought to us both, as I found our moments of silence and awe most profound then. From the Fort Valley, we headed for the eastern side of the Massanutten to a part of the Shenandoah Valley called the Page Valley (bounded by the Blue Ridge on the east) to the town of Luray, to Front Royal, and then back to Winchester. That afternoon capped my intense thoughts from the past few weeks as I received more insights about my roles in music as a performer and as part of Dulcimer Players News. I understand and appreciate where we've been and where we're going with this publication. As always, changes will continue as we grow in our service to you and to the folk music community at large. Thank you for your kind, encouraging words, your suggestions and your good help. In harmony,

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R e a d e r

Forum:

Dear DPN: In the letters page [October 1989 issue of DPN] there is a lengthy discussion between Ron McGee and John McCutcheon. There's a lot of validity to John's concerns and opinions but I still feel an urge to play Devil's Advocate regarding some of his comments. John's quite right in saying that "[0]ur music is a small, small part of the music industry." However, when he goes on in the next sentence to claim that".. .our music and our sales are judged by exactly the same standards that govern everyone from Michael Jackson on down the ladder," I'm a bit suspicious. Who's doing this "judging?" The major label record executives, who'll either ignore you if you're too small or buy you out if you're big enough? The owners of the small independent record companies?" The people who care enough about the general realm of independent music to buy and subscribe to independent music magazines like Sound Choice and OPtion, and who presumably then invest their record-buying money accordingly? The people whose interests are focused on a single genre or instrument, and will buy anything that fits the category..presuming they can find it? In his next paragraph, John argues that ".. .as workers who serve the needs of a particular community, we [musicians] are

Closing dates for the July-September 1990 DPN Information for News & Notes, Letters, Music Exchange, etc: May 1st Classified Ads: May 10th Display Ads: May 10th (space reservation). May 20th (camera-ready copy) For inquiries concerning interviews and articles, contact us for details and a style sheet. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome. For returns of any articles/interviews, please enclose a stamped envelope.

Tape

Pirating

entitled to expect to be fairly paid for the work we are asked to provide." A fine concept, in principle, but who's to decide what's a fair rate of pay? Will it be the musicians, who may well suffer from just a touch of self-interest? (congress sets its own salary; why shouldn't guitarists?) Or perhaps the Musicians Union, whose concerns seldom overlap those of travelling folk artists? How about the club owners and independent records producers, who, no matter how concerned they are with the performers and the music, also must be concerned with the economic survival of their own enterprises? Or should we ask the "community," perhaps, by eliminating admission fees and instead requiring that all performers only be paid by passing the hat during concerts? When John claims that being "...involved in the arts today is about risk," he's absolutely correct What he's ignoring, though, is the fact that it's the individual's choice to take those risks. Given the money-oriented aspects of our society, I doubt that there are many artists in any genre, any field - who aren't well aware of those risks before they enter upon their chosen careers. Well-meaning relatives, friends, and teachers are always happy to remind the budding artist of the potential problems that await. (Needless to say, this is equally true for gallery and club owners, small-label record producers, and many other individuals who try to earn their living in the gray area between the creator and the audience.) Early on in his letter, John maintains that tape pirating has "...helped force

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many fine artists from the field." Who's he talking about? I've worked for nearly fifteen years at a small, non-profit, volunteer-operated folk club in Philadelphia, plus an overlapping twenty years backstage at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and I've never heard of a performer who's been driven out of the folk music field by tape piracy. Such an event would certainly have received press coverage in magazines like Dulcimer Players News or Sing Out!, but I certainly can't recall any such report, let along enough of them to justify John's claim of "many." Have I missed something, or are we observing some unnecessary exaggeration here? Next I want to turn to John's last sentence, a remarkable piece of rhetoric. He says that when ".. .someone wants a free dub of an album I own I'll ask them to give me some free medical or legal service or build a room onto my house and, after it's complete, that I'll pay them if I like the work." To start with, I assume that John really isn't implying that the value of a record album and that of an extra bedroom, an appendectomy, or a precisely-drafted legal document are the same. Rather, he's getting at the notion that a performer is an individual who provides a service, like a doctor, a lawyer, or a building contractor, and that the procedures for paying for that service ought to be the same. Well, let's note that doctors and lawyers carry malpractice insurance, and contractors are bonded. Why? Because if you don't like their work, you can take them to court to get all or part of your payment refunded. Have you ever heard of a record-

Technical Dulcimer questions Sam Rizzetta, PO Box 510. Inwood, WV 25428 News and Notes Anna Selfridge, 3355 Ft. Amanda Rd., Lima, OH 45805 Clubs Column Judy Ireton, 6865 Scarff Rd., New Carlisle, OH 45344

Classified Ads: What's New and Reviews 40# per word. 4 issues paid in advance without Carrie Crompton, 11 Center Street,. Andover, CT 06232. copy changes: 20% discount.

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Spring 1990 * 3 ing artist being sued because their latest record didn't come up to a purchaser's expectations? When you deal with someone in the "service" industry, there's a formal or informal contract involved. When your car mechanic tells you that it's time for a new clutch, and it'll cost $00, including parts and labor, and you tell her that the price sounds good and she should go to work on it, you've just made a contract, and you have specific legal recourses should you later discover that her work was badly done or the parts improperly manufactured. The same principle applies to doctors, lawyers, contractors, plumbers, and numerous other professionals. It doesn't apply here, though; John's making a false comparison. He speaks of wanting artists ".. .to have the same opportunities for survival and growth as any other worker worth their wage," but then he doesn't compare artists with those who work for a fixed wage, like the guy on the assembly line in Detroit or the woman behind the counter at your local MacBurger. Instead, he contrasts them with serviceindustry professionals who operate on a contractual basis. Now, it's true that artists work by contracts, but those contracts are not with listening audiences. They're with the club owners and the recording companies, and have, at best, an indirect connection with you, the listener. When you buy a record album, the only contract involving you, the music consumer, is between you and the record store, and all that's guaranteed is that the manufacturing will have been performed correctly. There's absolutely no guarantee of musical quality. In John's world, when you want to determine what record to buy, you can read reviews, see performances, ask opinions of friends, hope to catch a cut on the radio, or any number of other things. Except one. You may not arrange to get a dub of all or part of the album so that you listen to it at your leisure and make an informed decision. And, should you dislike the album, that's your tough luck; it's yours now, so feel free to turn it into a Frisbee or otherwise reuse it, (Bad compact discs make excellent coasters for large beer steins, by the way.) Part of this approach is an attempt to

shift some of thefinancialrisk of album production onto the consumers. We're to go out and buy albums and take chances with our money. As John puts it, "Sure, I'll like some, dislike others. I'll buy some clunkers and happen upon some classics." I'm glad his budget allows for this kind of experimentation. Mine doesn't, and I suspect that's the case for many other folk music fans. But another part of this is nothing more than an implied condemnation of the morals of the folk listening public. In other words, there's an unstated assumption that if I do get that dub, and like its contents, I won't go buy the album. Doubtless, there are people with that attitude in the world. I'm not one of them, however, and I strongly resent anyone who assumes the contrary. (If I really wanted to get grumpy, I'd wander off into a diatribe about the number of otherwise moral folk musicians I've met who think it's perfectly acceptable to steal software for their personal computers, but that's another topic entirely) Tape pirating is a threat that's been publicized a lot over the years, primarily by the major record labels (rather than the independents John is concerned with). The real concern is not individual piracy, but the illicit firms that will bootleg thousands (or millions) of copies of extremely popular material for resale at so-called "discount" stores. In these cases, serious losses are incurred by both artists and manufacturers. But that situation is far from what the typical independent performer faces. One partial solution to this problem is for independent artists to band together and put out sampler CDs. (Not albums, because you can fit more material on a CD, and that's critical for a sampler to be really effective.) These discs should be sold at a price that's barely above cost. This is a common practice in the rock *n roll realm, and not just from the major labels, either. I've got about fifteen sampler CDs in my collection right now, one of which cost more than ten bucks; several were $8 or less. Each of them has 10-20 songs, each by a different artist. Each sampler I've acquired has led to the purchase of at least one new album, and often more than that.

from those who care about folk music. One is the current behavior of the Federal Government regarding the issuance of H 4 visas to foreign folk musicians. This has been discussed at length in Sing Out and OPtion, so I won't waste space repeating available information here. The other is the way in which ASCAP and BMI are harming both independent artists and the small venues at which they perform. Very few independent musicians ever see any royalties from these supposedly non-profit, "protective" organizations, even if they sing nothing but their own material every night of the year. Simultaneously, small clubs are being increasingly harassed by these organizations to either pay inordinate amounts of "dues" (none of which ever get back to the artists in whose name they're collected) or to ban all performers from ever playing material registered with ASCAP or BMI. Frankly, it's time for independent musicians and club owners to band together, gather the necessary data, and institute a class-action suit against these industry bandits. Dave Axler Philadephia, Pennsylvania

Editor's Note The Winter issue of Sing Out contains interesting information that Mark Moss, editor of SO, learned from someone at ASCAP regarding things mentioned in the last paragraph of Dave's letter. I've personally heard of an incidence where a handcraft shop carrying independent label and artist tapes was contacted by ASCAP. The problem arose from the shop playing the tapes (even with a Now Playing... sign). What if the shop considers stopping the sale of tapes rather than pay the "dues" requested? That loss would reach directly into our pockets. If you've experienced or have heard of similar events, please let us know. At the very least we can share the information with Mark Moss, Chris Lunn of Victory Music or with the newly-formed Folk Alliance. 0

There are two issues that, to my mind, deserve far more concern than tape piracy

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Music

Exchange • I would like to hear from fretted dulcimer players and amateur builders here in North Dakota. Bernie Madsoe 807 7th Ave. S.E. Jamestown, ND 58401

• I am looking for a copy of Dulcimer Maker: The Craft of Homer Ledford. Can anyone help me out? Gerald W. Hall 105 Nantucket Circle Painesville, OH 44077 216/357-1422 • I would like to find dulcimer players in Northern California (north of Sacramento). Deva Land PO Box 493603 Redding, CA 96040 • I would like to hear from hammered dulcimer players in Florida. Rob Levy 2099 Pine Tree Way Stuart, FL 34994 407/692-2351

• Do you know where the term hogfiddle originated as a name for the dulcimer? Sylvia Chapman 3360 Riverbanks Road Grants Pass, OR 97527 • The last several issues of Folk Harp Journal, (ISFHC, 4718 Maychelle Dr., Anaheim, CA 92807-3040) have included a wonderful section called "My Worst Gig." A Dulcimer Players News reader, who is a performer, suggested we borrow that idea and toss around some of our most memorable gigs. You're invited to contribute! This as-yet untitled section can include the nightmare ones, the funny ones, the touching ones... I'll start the ball rolling by telling you of the wedding I played for about 10 years

Micah Solomon's

f:OASIS:] I

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ago. As a relatively new performer, I needed to know what was going to happen when and how and why or I'd get really nervous. I think this job was the end of my Really Nervous days. The wedding was held outside in a beautiful spot and I was placed. As I began tuning my mountain dulcimer, I heard some discussion between two of the ushers, and it seemed to involve me. They were in complete disagreement about my placement since I was right where the best man was to stand. The best man was a horse. Surprise. Three moves later, peace reigned between the ushers and I was very glad that I did not yet perform with a hammered dulcimer. By the way, the wedding was lovely, the horse stood where he wanted to, and he behaved beautifully. Maddie MacNeil

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News

edited by Anna Selfridge

I hope it's a whole lot warmer where you are when you read this than what it is as I type the Spring column! The groundhog may not have seen his shadow, but to look out the window at Ohio's overnight ice storm doesn't give one much hope for the prospect of Spring; except for my paperwhite narcissus blooming on the window sill. Something else that tells me Spring really is coming is my mailbox budding with dulcimer festival announcements. The gypsies will be abroad again soon. Because of this issue's lengthier festival list, I'll try to keep this column to a minimum. I also haven't heard much news, so that helps! First on my mind for this issue was our dulcimer friends on both coasts. Since the last issue, Mother Nature had let her displeasure be seriously felt both in the South - the Carolinas and Alabama - and in California. All of the information I could glean from either coast said that everyone came through "all in one piece." In Huntsville, Alabama, Peggy F. Baird managed to save her great grandmother's Appalachian dulcimer from the November 1989 tornado. She, her son, and a music student were safe under a pool table, while the only room of her home remaining undamaged was the music room! Folks have heard from Neal Hellman (getting his groceries at the time of the quake) and the gang at Blue Lion, and all are well, though some of the musical residents in San Francisco report mild household damage. Neal must be stable enough; since the quake we've gotten word of his having a new album out, Dream of the Manatee with Joe Weed, available from Gourd music. I also heard from Nita Hon in Long beach, California, who reports that Cyntia Smith has been doing private tutoring on the fretted dulcimer from her home in the Orange County area, a sort of "master class" arrangement The student and tutor agree on a piece to be learned, and then they begin working on it at regular private lessons. Once students have their pieces

Spring 1990 H 5

Notes memorized and playable, they perform them at a recital open to the public. The performances are critiqued by Cyntia for the benefit of students and edification of the audience. The event is followed by a social hour and song circle. Master classes are something relatively new to the dulcimer world. Several years ago we attempted a series of them with visiting performers at the Great Black Swamp Dulcimer Festival. Our attempt wasn't overly successful. Has anyone out there had any more experience with dulcimer master classes? If, in the festivals list, you miss The (:ham plain Valley Festival (Fairfax, Vermont), it's because the festival went seriously into the red in 1989. Because of the debt incurred, there has been some doubt as to whether there will be a 1990 festival. If you wish to make a contribution towards the deficit, or to inquire about 1990, contact the festival staff at P.O. Box 163, Fairfax, VT 05454. In other late 1989 news, the list of winners from Winfield didn't arrive until after our last deadline. In the National Mountain Dulcimer Championship, 15 contestants entered, and Gib Sosman of Lawrence, Kansas, was declared champion. Second place went to Neil Gaston of Edmond, Oklahoma, and third place to Tim Simek of Friendsville, Tennessee. In the National Hammered Dulcimer Championship, 24 people competed. Dana Hamilton of Arlington, Texas, came in first Princess Harris of Wichita, Kansas, took the second prize and Carey Dubbert of Occidental, California, came in third. Congratulations to all the winners. While we're announcing things, it might be nice to note the marriage of one of the nationally-known members of the dulcimer world. Back in October, Wes Linenkugel, now-president of the Original Dulcimer Players Club, was married to Kim Albers in Lake wood, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland). Need we say there was a lot of music, including hammered dulcimer music, at the wedding? Congratulations to the happy couple. Percy Danforth's long-awaited video cassette is now available from Lark i n the Morning. Percy's been playing the bones since 1908 at festivals and shows throughout the U.S. and abroad. He's not

only been playing them, he's been teaching how to play them; and that's what this tape is about. Mister Bones - How to Play the Bones was produced by the Institute for Traditional Studies and is distributed by Lark in the Morning, P.O. Box 1176, Mendocino, CA 95460. Our condolences to the Indiana folk community on the loss of Lotus Dicky to leukemia in Paolia, Indiana. Lotus, a wellknownfiddlerand music historian, had played only recently in the Bloomington area. Recordings will soon be available through longtime friend, Grey Larsen (8920 South Shore Dr., Unionville, IN 47468), and plans for a Lotus Dickey songbook are also under way. Another obituary to note is that of Ewan MacColL, who died of complications following heart surgery in October. MacColl was best known as one of the founding fathers of the "Folk Song Revival." He is survived by his wife, Peggy Seeger, five children, and "two generations of young people forever indebted to him for their love of song." [For a fuller obituary, see Sing Out! The Folk Song Magazine, v.34, #4 (Fall '89).] Lorraine Lee has mentions that she now has a solo compact disc and cassette ready from Front Hall Records, and that her Elizabethan Songbook will soon be reissued by Yellow Moon Press. Columbia Records raised the curtain on one of the most controversial and politically crucial folk events of the 1960's with the release of the complete live recording of Pete Seeger's Carnegie Hall concert of June 8,1963 on compact disc and cassette. We Shall Overcome is filled with music that reflects the spirit of those tumultuous times, and still rings true today. Contemporary protest songs written by Bob Dylan (Who Killed Davey Moore?), Tom Paxton (What Did You Learn In School Today?), Malvina Reynolds (Little Boxes), and Seeger (Who Killed Norma Jean?) are juxtaposed with songs of conscience from numerous sources. January 25-28,1990 brought the Second Annual Conference of the North American Folk Music & Dance Alliance (The Alliance) to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The conference brought ca.

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continued on next page

Dulcimer Players News

News & Notes continued 200 people together, discussing issues important to small and large folk organizations, camps and schools, the media, performers and agents. Perhaps most important, the bylaws written by the steering committee, selected at last January's organizational meeting in Malibu, California, were accepted by the group. The Alliance is now a living, breathing reality! Sixteen people were selected to make up the Alliance's first Board of Directors: Art Mcnius, Pittsboro, NC (president); Anne Blaine, Vancouver, BC (vice president); Clark Weiss man, Tarzana, CA (Treasurer); Jan ie Wilson, Knoxville, TN (Secretary); Mar go Blevin, Elkins, WV (delegate at large); Elaine Weissman, Tarzana, CA (founder of the Alliance); James Keelaghan; Gene Shay, Philadelphia, PA; Jeff Warner, Washington, DC; Ed Miller, Austin, TX; Sandy Paton, Sharon, CT; Becky Blackley, Brisbane, CA; George Balderose, Pittsburgh, PA; Shelly

Romalis, Toronto, Out.; Michael Miles, Chicago, IL; and Doug Miller, Liberty ville, IL. Individuals and organizations interested in information about or membership in the Alliance can contact the California Traditional Music Society, 4401 Trancas Place, Tarzana, CA 91356.818/342-7664. Metamora, a well-loved trio of musicians (Grey Larsen, Pete Sutherland and Martin Simpson), is still travelling and performing these days. If you missed their concert for the California Traditional Music Society, look for them at festivals and perhaps in your local area this year. Contact for Metamora is Pete Sutherland, P.O. Box 4, Fairfax, VT 05454. Sing Out! The Folk Song Magazine celebrates its 40th birthday in May. The first issue was published in May of 1950. Celebrations include concerts and two new books from Sing Out Publishing: Collected Sing Out Reprints, Volume 1 and Sing For Freedom!, containing songs of the civil rights movement Also planned is the limited edition of

Blue

the Sing Out 40th Anniversary Guitar from the C.F. Martin Guitar Company. For information and subscriptions, contact Sing Out! at PO Box 5253, Bethlehem, PA 18015-5253.215/865-5366. Finally, a story from the Silver Strings Dulcimer Society news. It seems that the club had an engagement to perform at a local nursing home. The only gentleman to arrive for the presentation gave a talk in the retirement home's living room on the nomenclature of the instruments, then performed for about an hour and a quarter for an audience of 21 ladies and one gentleman, who, needless to say, had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The performer was regretful that more of their club had been unable to show up to make the meeting more enjoyable. He ended his article with a postscript. He found out he'd gone to the wrong retirement home! May we all have the bravery to do such good deeds! Please send information for this column to Anna Selfridge, 3355 Ft, Amanda Rd., Lima, OH 45805 (phone 419/991-1656, evenings). 0

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j Musical

Spring 1990 n 7

R e v i e w s

edited by Carrie Crompton

Generations Sally Rogers, Flying Fish Records, 1304 W. Schubert, Chicago, XL 60614 Sally Rogers says her fourth "solo" album, Generations, is dedicated to the "many strong women on both sides of my family." Her choice of material, by women and about women ".. .all speak to the strength of womanhood, its struggles and its delights." With a montage of four generations of old family photographs on the cover, Sally's new album brings these remarkable folk home to us. The album has a fresh, clean sound enhanced by Sally's very productive collaboration with the members of Trapezoid. The arrangements are full and complex, but never overpower Sally's marvelous voice. Several cuts, notably Sally's "Seven Long Years" and Si Kahn's "Generations," are highly polished arrangements that I would expect to hear on a mixed format radio station: their appeal is broad. Sally's a capella renditions of Frank Higgins' 'Testimony of Patience Kershaw," and Can dace Anderson's "The Ballad of Sojourner Truth" powerfully bring the stories of these two remarkable women home to the listener. The "Blue Lion Suite," Sally's tribute to Bob and Janita Baker of Blue Lion Instruments, is a true showpiece for the bass dulcimer played with obvious relish. (This latter piece, as well as several others, can be found in the Sally Rogers Songbook) Sally writes, "Sometimes a whisper is louder than a shout." The concluding piece, a simple rendition of Jean Ritchie's "Peace Round," medlied with Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet's devastating poem, "Dead Girl of Hiroshima," provides a stark whispering reminder of what will happen to us if we remain unable to live in peace with one another. Generations is more than just a "dulcimer album," just as Sally is much, much more than just a dulcimer player. It is a spectacular musical experience that I hope

will find a broad audience. The excitement and power of this album, following as it does on Sally's acclaimed last album, her joint collaboration with Claudia Schmidt, leaves me eagerly awaiting her next release. Until then, you'll find me listening to this one. David Moore

Constructing The Mountain Dulcimer Dean Kimball, Crying Creek Publishers, PO Box 8, Cosby, TN 37722 (book) Constructing the Mountain Dulcimer, originally published in 1975, has been reprinted by Crying Creek Publishers. Dean Kimball, a professor in engineering at Antioch College for many years, is a designer and builder of stringed instruments and has taught the construction of the mountain dulcimer for several years. Constructing The Mountain Dulcimer has separate chapters dealing with tools, glue, construction materials and preparation. Each step of building the dulcimer is clearly described and well illustrated. There is a nice chapter on fret installation that discusses calculating fret locations and includes an addition to the original printing: a Basic computer program that calculates fret spacing. The book is completed with several indexes discussing construction of a "Simplified Dulcimer," peg-making (the book does not discuss geared tuners), finishes, tools and supply sources. There is a welcome bibliography at the end of the book. Constructing The Mountain Dulcimer is a welcome addition to my "how to..." library. Ed Ireton

sette is the creation of Canadians Roland Packer, hammered dulcimer, and Philip Corke, guitar, who met as composition students at the University of Toronto, where they graduated in piano performance and composition. This exuberant, spontaneoussounding collection was produced with two years' work in their home studioâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;first laying down the basic acoustic dulcimer and guitar tracks, then layering, and layering again other acoustic instruments, including cimbalom, piano, harpsichord, mandolins, and then then adding a host of synthesized sounds. I am generally not a fan of synthesizers, but I have to say that their use in Maple Grove is remarkably creative and satisfying. The tunes on the 20 cuts are mostly traditional, with a few original compositions thrown in. The overall style is a rhythmic jazz-swing with many subtleties in texture, harmony, meter and rhythm that playfully lead the listener into unexpected turns of melody and surprising vistas of sound. The dulcimer-playing is really top-notch, and the guitar playing is equally virtuosic. I encourage you to get this tape for your sheer enjoyment, and also as a primer in new possibilities for the dulcimer. Here are a few of my favorite "magic moments"...out of many. The introduction on two Jew's harps (on the DX-7) of the melody on "Red Fox;" the psaltery glissando in "The Lonesome Scenes of Winter;" the double dulcimer on "Eastend;" the meter changes in "Lodge Road;" the dulcimer introduction to "My Pop's Waltz." Packer and Corke call themselves The Playford Players, revealing their beginning as a duo that performed primarily music of the 18th century. They travel with thcir hybrid-folk sound (performed all acoustically) to folk festivals and craft fairs in Southern Ontario, and are planning to perform at festivals in the United States in the coming year. Mitzie Collins

Maple Grove The Playford Players, 20 Blackwood Crescent, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 3H6, Canada Maple Grove is a fascinating, highenergy, multi-layered expedition into acoustic and synthesized sound. The cas-

Send books, albums and tapes for review to Carrie Crompton, 11 Center Street, Andover.CT 06232.0

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Events edited by Anna Selfridge

This calendar includes events from midApril until Labor Day. The July Dulcimer Players News will have late summer activities not listed here, plus events for the fall. Please let us know about any festivities we should include. Deadline for the July DPN is May 1st. Send information to Anna Selfridge, 3355 Ft. Amanda Rd., Lima, OH 45805 or to Dulcimer Players News.

APRIL

April 21 • Mannington, WV Mountain Dulcimer Convention, Round Barn, 10 am registration, socializing, jamming. 12 noon pot luck lunch. 1 pm open stage. All lap and hammer dulcimer players, builders are welcome as is the public. No admission charge. Info:

Patty Looman, 228 Maple Ave., Mannington, WV 26582. 304/986-2411.

Folk Center, Ml View, AR 72560. 501/269-3851.

April 21 • Tishomingo, MS Dulcimer Day, featuring performances, jam sessions and sales booths. Sponsored by the Ala-Sippi Dulcimer Association. Held at Tishomingo State Park. Info: Hollis E. Long, Box 76, Golden, MS 38847.

A p r i l 27-29 • Lima, OH 12th Annual Great Black Swamp Dulcimer Festival at Ohio State University. Workshops, concerts, dancing and jamming. Held indoors. Info: Susan Porter, Ohio State Un., 4240 Campus Dr., Lima, OH 45804.419/221-1641, ext. 254 or 419/223-8074.

April 23-29 • Elkins, WV Dulcimer Week and a Dulcimer Festival presented by the Augusta Center. Included are in-depth classes for hammered and mountain dulcimer players, a Friday evening dance and a Saturday evening concert. Info: Doug Hill, Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop, Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV 26241. 304/6361903. A p r i l 27-29 • ML View, AR The Ozark Folk Center's Dulcimer Jamboree features mountain and hammered dulcimer contests, workshops and concerts. Info: Dulcimer Jamboree, Ozark

A p r i l 29 • Corydon, IN Traditional Music Festival at Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area features dulcimer workshops and an evening concert Camping available. Info: Jeff Cummings, Wyandotte WoodsSRA, 7240 Old Forest Road, Corydon, IN 47112. 812/738-8234.

MAY

May 5 • Watertown, MA 9th Annual Flower Carol Dulcimer Festival at Palfrey Street School in Water-

ThelOth Anniversary Summer Solstice Folk Music and Dance Festival California State University, Northridge, C a .

June 22,23 and 24,1990 Over 110 Artists, including: Janita Baker Larkin Kelley Bryant Fred Meyer Mark Tindle Peter Tommerup David Schnaufer

O t h e r Festival events w i l l i n c l u d e : Instrument workshops, three concert stages, F o l k Dancing, Jam Sessions, F o l k Singing,

Sherry Colgrove Beverly Erickson Esther Kreek David Neiman Joemy Wilson Randy Zombola

Arts and Crafts, Storytelling and m u c h , much more!

Housing and self contained camper space is available. For tickets and more information call: The Festival Grounds are completely handicap accessible.

The California Traditional Music Society 4401

T r a n c a s Place, T a r z a n a ,

C a l i f o r n i a

(818)342-SONG

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9 1 3 5 6

Spring 1990 ? 9 town (Boston area). Workshops and concert. Info: 617/484-2971. May 6 • Birmingham, AL 16th Annual Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Festival held at Tannehill State Park between Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. Jamming, performances and sales booth. Camping available. Info: Levis Barton, 2549 Altadena Forest Circle, Birmingham, AL 35243. Info. 205/822-1092. May 11-13 • Yermo, CA The Calico Spring Festival is a bluegrass hootenanny with contests and dancing at Calico Ghost Town. Camping available. Info: Calico Spring Festival, PO Box 638, Yermo, CA 92398.619/254-2122. May 12-13 • Glen Rose, TX 9th Lone Star State Dulcimer Festival, held at Oakdale Park, features contests for mountain and hammer dulcimer players, arts and crafts fair, workshops and concerts. Info: Dana Hamilton, 904 Houston, Arlington, TX 76012. 817/275-3872.

May 19-20 • Claremont, CA 10th Annual Claremont Spring Folk Festival. Folk and traditional music with workshops and concerts including dulcimer. Info: (send SASE) CSFF 8755 La Vine St., Alta Loma, CA 91701. 714/987-5701. May 19-20 • Rogersville, AL First Creek Dulcimer Day Festival at Wheeler State Park. Open stage, workshops, jamming, performances and pot luck. Camping available. Info: Robbie Robbins, 24 Harborview Cl N.E., Decatur, AL 35601. 205-355-4813. May 19-20 • Coshocton, OH Dulcimer Days at Historic Roscoe Village. Dulcimer competition, workshops, open stage, jamming, exhibits and sales. Info: Roscoe Village Foundation, 440 North Whitewoman St., Coshocton, OH 43812.614/622-9310.

shops, singing and dancing. Dulcimer activities. Bring or rent an instrument. Info: UWM Folk Center, Ann Schmid, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201.414/2294177. May 26-27 • Brandywine, MD 8th Annual Spring Dulcimer Family Weekend. Cedarville Natural Resources Park. Workshops for hammer and fretted dulcimers, autoharp, banjo and band, plus jamming and open stage. Info: Fred Bird, 419 Park Rd., Rockville, MD 20850. 301/279-7928.

JUNE June-September • Rhinebeck, NY The Omega Institute hosts workshops in instrumental music, voice and drumming. Info: Omega Institute, RD 2, Box 377D, Rhinebeck, NY 12572.914/3386030 or 800/862-8890.

May 25-28 • East Troy, WI Stringalong Weekend. Concerts, work-

continued on next page

SOUTHERN MICHIGAN DULCIMER FESTIVAL Two Days

of Music

Dance

X.u

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SPONSORED

SOUTHERN MICHIGAN DULCIMER FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION J U N E

1 5 - 1 7 , 1 9 9 0

CALHOUN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IN

HISTORIC MARSHALL. MICHIGAN TO BE HELD RAIN OR SHINE

WORKSHOPS. DANCING. JAMMING. OPEN STAGE. CONCERTS CAMPSITES. AVAILABLE FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: WARREN GUILES 9575 PEACH RIDGE SPARTA. Ml 49345 [616) 887-9436

CONCERTS WORKSHOPS DANCING CRAFTS FOOD FREE PARKING FREE CAMPING featuring John McCutcheon • Anne Hills • Priscilla Herdman Art Thieme • Kathy ()'Hara & Diana Laffey • Voices Ron Holm • Free Hot Lunch • Laketown Buskers and many more For Tickets a n d IrLformation C a l l

1-800-521-0849

Weekend Pass $15 • Children under 12 Free Presented by Rock River Friends of Folk Music At the Historic Midway Village • Rockford Museum Center 6799 Guilford Road • Rockford, IL 61107

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10 "jf Dulcimer Players News

June 2-3 • Overland Park, KS 14th Annual Dulcimer Days Festival. Workshops, mini-concerts, folk dancing, hymn sing, jamming, open stage and sales booths. Info: Dee Lajoie, 6741 Mackey, Overland Park, KS 66204. 913/236-9289. June 2-4 • Madison, IN Madison Heritage Days features pioneer crafts, children's events and music (dulcimers included). Info: Madison Heritage Days, 1119 W. Main St., Madison, IN 47250. 812/265-5080. June 8-10 • Canoga Park, CA Follows Camp Family Bluegrass Festival. Lessons on guitar, banjo, mandolin, Dobro, hammer dulcimer; concerts and workshops. Info: Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor, 20246 Saticoy St., Canoga Park, CA 91306. 818/700-8288. June 8-10 • Reading, PA 7th Annual French Creek Dulcimer Retreat in French Creek State Park. Informal workshops, jamming, open stage and

pot luck. Info: Art Cucinotta, 6 Big Chief Trail, Medford Lakes, NJ 08055. 609/6549232.

TVA-Land Between The Lakes, 100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, KY 422119001. 502/924-5602, ext. 238.

June 8-10 • Cosby, TN 14th Annual Cosby Dulcimer and Harp Festival at Folk Life Center of the Smokies. For makers, players and listeners of mountain and hammered dulcimer and all kinds of harps. Workshops, children's activities and storytelling. Camping available. Info: Jean & Lee Schilling, PO Box 8, Cosby.TN 37722. 615/487-5543.

June 9-10 • San Francisco, CA 14th Free Folk Music Festival at Ft. Mason Center. No paid performers. Everyone is a participant with continuous concerts and workshops for instruments and song plus sales booths. Handicapped access. Info: San Francisco Folk Music Club, 885 Clayton, San Francisco, CA 94117.415/661-2217.

June 9-10 • Burbank, CA June 10-16 • Hindman, KY Traditional Music Festival. Harpers, 13th Annual Appalachian Family piping, dancing, harp and fiddle contests, FoUc Week. Music, dance, storytelling, poetry, Ceili bands, booths, food, 10 stages workshops (including lap and hammered of continuous entertainment. Info: Grand dulcimer), crafts, concerts and children's National Irish Fair, PO Box 6668, Beverly activities. Info: Mike Mullins, Hindman Hills, CA 90212. 818/509-8177. Settlement School, PO Box 844, Hindman, KY 41822.606/785-5475. June 9-10 • Golden Pond, KY The Four Rivers Folk Festival features June 14-24 • Branson, MO folk and bluegrass musicians, storytellers, 16th Annual American Folks Music dancing, and 19th century trades. Info: Festival i n the Ozarks. Music, dancing,

The L B L Association & L a n d Between The Lakes' HomepIace-1850 Present:

F o l k & Bluegrass Music M o r n i n g M u s i c Workshops F o l k Dancing 19th C e n t u r y Trades T r a d i t i o n a l Food Concessions Children's Activities Featuring: Sally Rogers-Guy CarawanLois HornbostelB i l l Sky Family-Judy DomenyHome Remedy-Greg Jowaisasand many more

FOUR RIVERS

FOLK

F E S T I V A L June 9 & 10,1990

Camping Sites available at Land Between The Lakes For more information Write: Land Between The Lakes 100 Van Morgan Drive Golden Pond, Ky 42211-9001 or Call: (502)924-5602 ext.238 7a.m. - 3:30p.m., M-F

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Spring 1990 ? 11 performances, rides, crafts and food. Info: Rex Burdette, Silver Dollar City, Branson, MO 65616.417/338-2611. June 15-17 • Vlctorville, CA 1 luck Finn's Country and Bluegrass Jubilee features performances, workshops in mountain and hammered dulcimer, and clogging. Camping available. Info: Don V. Tucker, PO Box 56419, Riverside, CA 92517.714/780-8810. June 15-17 • Glenville, WV 41st Annual West Virginia State Folk Festival Traditional music and dance, concerts and jamming. Info: Mack Samples, Glenville State College, Glenville, WV 26351. 304/462-7361. June 15-17 • Alderpoint, CA Eel River Music Camp. Workshops for acoustic instruments, singing and dance plus camp out. Info: Kicking Mule Records Music Camp, PO Box 158, Aiderpoint, CA 95411.707/926-5312.

June 15-17 • Marshall, M I Southern Michigan Dulcimer Festival at the Calhoun County Fairgrounds. Workshops, open stage, jamming, concerts and sales booths. Camping available. Info: Warren Guiles, 9575 Peach Ridge, Sparta, MI 49345.616/887-9436.

June 16-22 • Brass town, NC June Homecoming Music/Dance Week. Celebration of music and dance featuring American and English country dancing. Info: The John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC 28902.704/8372775.

June 15-17 • Valhalla, NY 13th Great Hudson River Revival, Westchester County Community College campus. Performances, dancing, singing, storytelling plus food, craft booths and displays. Info: Judy Green, c/o Clearwater, 112 Market St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. 914/454-7673.

June 21-24 • Boulder, CO 17th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Fest i v a l Traditional and innovative music. Info: Telluride Bluegrass Festival, 1215 Mapleton, Boulder, CO 80304. 303/4496007.

June 16 • Brethren, MI 13th Annual Spirit o f the Woods Folk Festival. Music, dance, children's activities and crafts. Info: Spirit of the Woods Music Assn., 11171 Kerry Road, Brethren, MI 49619. 616/477-5381.

June 22-24 • Northridge, CA 10th Annual Summer Solstice Dulcimer and Traditional Music and Dance Festival. Workshops for instruments (including hammered and fretted dulcimers), singing, dance and crafts, plus dance and concerts. Info: California Traditional Music Society, 4401 Trancas Place, Tarzana, CA 91356. 818/342-7664. continued on next page

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• • r e s e n t s T h e

K i l l

A n n u a l

DULCIMER DAYS Hay

19 & 2€, 1 9 9 ©

The Lake Park Recreational A r e a P a v i l i o n is t h e s e t t i n g for t h i s weekend o f A m e r i c a n Folk M u s i c ! I t is w i t h i n w a l k i n g d i s t a n c e o f Roscoe V i l l a g e w i t h i t s 21 shops, e x h i b i t s , r e s t a u r a n t s a n d o v e r n i g h t accommodation; Camping f a c i l i t i e s are also close b y . Six

Competitive Categories

Located on SR 16/83 near t h e j u n c t i o n o f US 36 in e a s t - c e n t r a l O h i o . Roscoe V i l l a g e F o u n d a t i o n , 381 H i l l S t r e e t , C o s h o c t o n , OH 43812 o r call (614) 622-9310 for i n f o r m a t i o n . 800-237-7397 f o r Reservations/lodging. (614) 622-7528 f o r campin

DULCIMER Affordable •

Sturdy

Easy to t u n e & 3 strings - 2 Hardwood Durable

play

octaves

fret

board

cardboard

resonator

box

O N L Y $30 unassembled kits available P R O J E C T J O Y • 307 West Ave. Elyrla, OH 44035 (216) 323-2777

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12 if Dulcimer Players News June 22-24 • Altamont, NY 10th Annual Old Songs Festival o f Traditional Music and Dance. Altamont Fairgrounds. Concerts, singing, dancing, participatory dancing, leam-hows, storytelling and performances for children. Camping available. Handicapped access. Info: Old Songs, Inc., P.O. Box 399, Guilderland, NY 12084. 518/765-2815 Monday through Saturday, 10 am-3pm. June 22-24 • Blue ML Lake, NY Northeast Dulcimer Symposium Weekend. Workshops, tutorials, concert and symposium for mountain and hammered dulcimer. Info: Sum Productions, P.O. Box 104, Tomsham, ME 04086. 207/729-3005. June 24-June 30 • Berea, KY 9th Annual Kentucky Summer Dance School. Folk dancing and music in the Anglo-American tradition. Includes hammered and mountain dulcimer workshops plus crafts, storytelling, folk arts and children's program. Special tracks for

school teachers and group leaders. Info: Kentucky Heritage Institute, PO Box 4128, Frankfort, KY 40603. June 25-29 • Blue M t Lake, NY Northeast Dulcimer Symposium Studies Week. Group and private instruction for mountain and hammered dulcimer players. Class sizes limited. Info: Sum Productions, 198 1/2 Southern Blvd., Danbury, CT 06810. 203/744-7166. June 25-29 • Princeton, NJ Westminster Summer Session. Hammered Dulcimer: Where do the hammers fly? Class on technique, tuning, chording for accompaniment and repertoire. Graduate credit. Campus housing available. Other music sessions offered June through July. Info: Summer Session, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ 08540. 609/924-7416. June 25-29 • Boone, NC 13th Annual Appalachian State University Dulcimer Playing Workshop

highlighting traditional mountain music. Classes for all levels, concerts, open stage and field trip. Info: Cindy Rice, ASU Office of Conf. & Inst., Boone, NC 28608. 704/262-3045.

JULY July-September • Asheville, NC 23nd Annual Shindig-On-The-Green. Saturdays. Clog dancing, oldtimc and bluegrass music, ballads, dulcimers and storytelling. Audience participation. Info: Jackie Ward, P.O. Box 1010, Asheville, NC 28802. 1/800/257-1300. Jury 5-8 • Greensburg, PA Westmoreland arts and Heritage FestivaL Fiddling, clogging, artist market, exhibits, Children's activities at Twin Lakes County Park. Info: RD 1, Box 203, Greensburg, PA 15601.412/836-1703. July 6-8 • Zelienople, PA Allegheny Dulcimer FestivaL Moun-

K E N T U C K Y M U S I C

W E E K

Kentucky Music Weekend

Kentucky Music Week

Instructors Include:

July

Linda Thompson, David Schnaufer, Jenny Armstrong, Fred Meyer, Kendra Ward, Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza, Duck Baker, plus many others not yet finalized.

27-28-29

30 - August 3

Iroquois Amphitheater Iroquois Park/Newcut Road Louisville, Kentucky

Bellarmine College Newburg Road Louisville, Kentucky

Concerts • Workshops Dances • Crafts

Classes In: Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer, Tin Whistle, Harp, Singing, Storytelling, Instrument Building and much more!

Free!!

For Further Information: Nancy Barker P.O.Box 651 • Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-5237

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Spring 1990 * 13 tain and hammered dulcimer workshops, concerts and square dance. Info: Dorothy Buchanan, 7616 Waverly St., Pittsburgh, PA 15221.412/371-7828. Jury 6-8 • Bar Harbor, ME 10th Down east Dulcimer FestivaL Workshops, open stage, concerts, sales booths and contra dance. Info: (send SASE) Song of the Sea, 47 West St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. 207/288-5653. Jury 7-8 • Morris, IL Gebbard Woods Dulcimer Festival sponsored by Hammers and Noters Dulcimer Society, Midwest Chapter. Workshops, concerts and jamming. Info: Diane Ippel, PO Box 792, Morris, IL 60450. 815/942-0609. Jury 7-August 19 • New Milford, CT The National Guitar Summer Workshop. Canterbury School: One-, two-, and three-week long courses (intermediate and advanced) in a variety of instruments and skills. Scholarships available. Info: David Smolover, Director, NGSW, Box 222, Lakeside, CT 06758. 203/567-8529. July 8-Aug. 12 • Elkins, WV Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops. Five weeks of classes, concerts, dances and other folk arts events including weeklong dulcimer workshops, beginning to advanced. On-campus lodging and meals available. Info: Doug Hill, Augusta Heritage Center, Davis & Elkins College, Elkins, WV 26241. 304/636-1903. July 13-15 • Murfreesboro, TN Uncle Dave Macon Days features performances, contests (including dulcimer), buckdancing and clogging, children's activities, crafts. Handicapped accessible. Info: Gloria Wilson, PO Box 1333, Murfreesboro, TN 37133.615/893-2369. Jury 13-15 • Vancouver, BC 13th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival features performers from many countries, storytellers, crafts, children's activities at Jericho Beach Park. Info: Vancouver Folk Music Festival, 3271 Main Si, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5V 3M6. 604/879-2931.

Jury 16-26 • Rio Grande, OH The School o f Homestead Living features dulcimer workshops (hammered and mountain) from beginning to advanced. Special workshop on dulcimers in the classroom. Info: Kingsley Meyer, University of Rio Grande, Box 878, Rio Grande, OH 45674. 614/245-5353. (Ohio only: 800/282-7201) July 19-22 • Evart, MI 18th Annual Dulcimer Funfest at the Osceola County Fairgrounds. Concerts, workshops, open stage, jamming and sales booth. Camping available. Info: Donna Beckwith, 817 Innes NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.616/459-6716. July 19-22 • Tacoma, WA Guild of American Luthiers' Convention with workshops, exhibitions, lectures, concerts, auction. Held at Pacific Lutheran Un. Dorm space, motels, camping available. Info: GAL, 8222 S. Park Ave., Tacoma, WA 98408.206/472-7853.

shops, jamming and dance. Dulcimer activities. Info: Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 220 E. State Sl, Rockford, IL 61104. 800/521-0849 (IL) 800423-5361 (outside IL). Jury 21-28 • Plymouth, MA Folk Music Week at Pinewoods Camp. Concerts, jam sessions, song swaps, music lessons and country dancing. Other music and dance weeks offered June through AugusL Info: Country Dance & Song Society, 17 New South St., Northampton, MA 01060. 413/584-9913. July 27-29 • Binghamton, NY 14th Annual Cranberry Dulcimer Gathering. Held at the Unitarian Universalis! Church. Workshops (mountain and hammer dulcimers, autoharp) concerts, open stage, contra-dancing and jamming. Camping available. Info: Ed Ware, 329 Marion Ave., Endwell, NY 13760. 607/748-1492.

continued on next page Jury 20-21 • Buena Vista, CO High Country Folklife Festival with performers, dancers, storytellers, crafts sales and demo, contests on Ml and hammered dulcimer and fiddle. Workshops for dulcimer and Autoharp players. Camping available. Handicapped accessible. Info: Dave Cain, PO Box 28, Vuena Vista, CO 81211.719/395-6745. July 20-22 • Bartelsville, OK Dulcimer Days. Workshops for mountain and hammered dulcimer plus concerts. Info: Indian Territory Dulcimer Celebration, PO Box 471532, Tulsa, OK 74147. 918/744-8928.

July 21-22 • Gallipolis, OH The Ohio Valley Dulcimer Festival (formerly held at Bob Evans Farm) features concerts, workshops, open stage, jamming, exhibitors, and activities for children. Info: Tim Nyros, The French Art Colony, PO Box 472, Gallipolis, OH 45741.614/446-3834.

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For more

July 21-22 • Rockford, IL Folk Music Festival. Rockford Museum and Midway Village. Performances, work-

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

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14 1 Dulcimer Players News

July 27-29 • Johnstown, PA National Folk Festival Performances in multicultural music, dance, crafts. Camping available. Handicapped accessible. Info: Lowell National Hist. Park, 169 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 01852. 508/4591000. July 27-Aug 4 • Mendocino, CA Lark I n The Morning Music Celebration. Music and dance, workshops, parties, harps to hurdy gurdies, bagpipes to belly dance. Camping and childcare available. No pets or day visitors. Info: Lark In The Morning, Box 1176, Mendocino, CA 95460. 707/964-5569. July 27-29 • Louisville, KY 14th Annual Kentucky Music Weekend. Concerts, workshops, dances and crafts at Iroquois Park. Info: Nancy Barker, Box 651, Bardstown, KY 40004. 502/3485237. July 28-29 • Indianapolis, IN Annual Eagle Creek Folk Music Fes-

tival at Eagle Creek Park. Solo and group performances including mountain and hammered dulcimers, Autoharp, guitar and fiddle. Info: Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society, PO Box 1503, Indianapolis, IN 46206. 317/462-9681. July 28-29 • Kirtland Hills, OH Little Mountain Folk Festival. Traditional music, performances, exhibits, food, country dance, workshops, jamming, arts and crafts. Info: Eric Cardinal, Lake County Hist. Center, 8610 King Memorial Rd., Mentor, OH 44060. 216/255-8979. July 29-Sept 9 • Kingston, NY Ashokan Fiddle and Dance Workshops. Five weeks: Southern week, Celtic week, western and swing, teacher's playshop, and Northern week. Camping available. Info: Jay Ungar, RD 1, Box 489, West Hurley, NY 12491.914/338-2996. July 30-Aug 3 • Louisville, KY Kentucky Music Week. Instruction in fretted and hammer dulcimer, tinwhistle,

Hands-On

3rd

D u l c i m e r Workshops!

Intensive classes in lap and hammered dulcimer, for all levels, led by: • • • • • • • • •

AUGUST August 2-4 • Asheville, NC Mountain Dance and Folk FestivaL Cloggin and figure dancing, oldtime and bluegrass music, ballads, dulcimers, storytelling. Handicapped accessible. Info: Jackie Ward, Ashville Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1011, Asheville, NC 28802. 800/548-1300 (NC), 800/257-1300. August 2-5 * Dauphin, Manitoba Canada's National Ukrainian FestivaL Ukrainian entertainment, workshops, song, dance, displays, arts and crafts, foods. Info: 119 Main St. South, Dauphin, Manitoba R7N 1K4, Canada. 204/638-5645. August 3-10 • Sldmouth, Devon Sldmouth International Festival of Folk Arts. Folk and roots music and dancing in over 500 events. Handicapped

Annual

"Woods

Saturday and Sunday July 7 8, 1990 Qtbhard 'Woods State Tan\_ Morris, IL CCViCESXS • W&RXSXOES • ]MdS1SSl<JHS OQLDf&CS ACTlVlTTLS • JOLX-DXtiClTlQ iTifttZMTj^vmLTrrss or AXJISXXS

Karen Ashbrook Larkin Bryant Wes Chappell R. P. Hale Sam Herrmann David James Madeline MacNeil Randy Marchany Sam Rizzetta & more!

July 8 t h - A u g u s t

QTmtimp

harp and other instruments plus singing and a finale conceit. Info: Nancy Barker, Box 651, Bardstown, KY 400O4. 502/348-5237.

10th

Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops

Sam %zxetta 'Bill %pbinson and friends Ctulia iVehter Marf^TmdU Sttvt or Jean Smith Q y Armstrong Ihe gaping Mm* Tful Cooper or Margaret tylson •Diane fppel or <MOK$J eTT

The Qtbhard 'Woods "Dulcimer festival is sponsored by the Hammers and Titers Dulcimer Society of Illinois, Inc., a not for profit organization, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Conservation, the City of Morris, and the Qrundy County Association of Commerce and Industry. JOT further information, please contact: "HXXpS, TO. Kmc, 110, Downers Qrovc, IL 60SlS (81S) 942-0113 • (708)852-7902 • (708)456-6297 tfu Qiikari VJooii Jhddmtr fuuval it partially tupporud by a /roil from UU lUinou Aru Counai a itau agtnty, aU Ju Oipturud Zru&Muni for iki Aru

Box DP • Davis & Elkins College Elkins, WV 26241 • (304) 636-1903

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Spring 1990 ? 15

accessible. Camping available. Info: John Dowell, Festival Office, 6 East Street, Sidmouth, devon, England EX 10 8BL. 0395515134. August 3-12 • L'Orient, Brittany Festival Interceltlque de L'Orient Huge annual international gathering of the Celts: musicians, singers, actors, artists, lecturers. Contests (mountain and hammered dulcimer and Autoharp), workshops, crafts. Camping available. Handicapped accessible. Info: Place de L'Hotel de Ville, L'Orient, France 56100.03397.21.24.29. August 11 • Midland, MI Folk Music in the Dow Gardens. Music, dulcimers, and dancing. Info: Jerry Hickman, 5805 Highland Dr., Midland, MI 48640. 517/631-7153. August 17-26 • East Lansing, MI The Michigan Festival Inc. Michigan State University and Downtown East Lansing. Folk, jazz, contemporary music,

dance theatre, children's performances and activities, nationally known performers. Traditional Folk Artists. Info: Diane Litsey, 4990 Northwind Drive, Suite 230, East Lansing, MI 48823. 517/351-6620. Aug 29-Sept 3 • Avoca, IA Old-Time Country Music Contest and Festival Contests for hammered and mountain dulcimers among many other instruments at the Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds. Camping available. Info: PO Box 438, Walnut, IA 51577. 712/7843001. Aug 30-Sept 3 • Yosemite, CA 10th Annual West Coast Women's Music & Comedy Festival Music, comedy, dancing, crafts and workshops. Camping available. Info: (send SASE) Festivals, 15842 Chase St., Sepulveda, CA 91343. 818/8934075. Aug 31-Sept 3 • Brasstown, NC Labor Day Family Music and Dance. Music and dance programs for all ages, plus games and workshops. Info: John C.

Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC 28902. 704/837-2775 or 800/837-2775.

SEPTEMBER September 1-3 • Alderpoint, CA Eel River Music Camp. Workshops for acoustic instruments, singing and dance plus camp out. Includes activities for dulcimer players. Info: Kicking Mule Records Music Camp, PO Box 158, Alderpoint, CA 95411.707/926-5312. September 2-3 • Brandywine, MD 8th Annual Fall Musical Weekend at Cedarville State Park. Workshops, jamming, singing, campfire music and open stage plus activities for dulcimer players. Camping available. Info: Keith Young, 3815 Kendale Rd., Annandale, VA 22003. 703/941-1071. 0

13th Annual Appalachian State University Dulcimer Playing Workshop Boone, North Carolina June 25 thru 29, 1990 You read about it in the winter DPN! Our 5-day mini-college on the art of mountain dulcimer playing is held in the heart of dulcimer country — North Carolina's beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Choose from 4 "grades" to suit your playing skills and develop those skills in 15 hours of continuing morning classes with a master teacher. Afternoons offer optional special interest sessions given by entire staff.

HAMMERED DULCIMERS Handcrafted in Appalachian Hardwoods by Jim Miller

Staff Betty Smith • Jerry Rockwell • Madeline MacNeil • David Schnaufer • Anna Barry Wayne Seymour • Lois Hornbostel • Ralph Lee Smith • Susan Trump Phyllis Gaskins • Carolyn White • Sally George • Joe Shelton

Special Features • A focus on dulcimer traditions of North Carolina and Virginia • Two concerts - "Traditional Night" featuring Frank Proffitt. Jr. and staff members, and a "New Traditions" concert featuring staff • Field trip into the mountains to meet traditional dulcimer builders • Special interest sessions on musical styles and playing techniques • Open Stage • "Dulcimer Doctor" • "Tuning Technician" • Vendors' Faire • Jamming • Beautiful Mountain Scenery • Inexpensive dormitory housing For B r o c h u r e , E n r o l l m e n t write or call ASU Office of Conferences & Institutes Boone, NC 28608 (704)262-3045 (Enrollment limited, so register early.)

For O t h e r I n f o r m a t i o n write Lois Hornbostel, Director P.O. Box 487 Bryson City, NC 28713

12/11-5400.00 15/14-$495.00 Hardshell Case-$100.00 Stand - $30.00 Hammers - $10.00 Shipping - $10.00

P.O. Box 228 H a m p t o n , Tennessee (615)

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725-3191

37658

University of Rio Grande p r o d u c t i o n ! p r e s e n t s

School of Homestead Living Dulcimer Week July 1 6 - 2 6 ,

1990

Beginning Hammered Dulcimer • July 16-18 Beginning Mountain Dulcimer • July 16-20 Intermediate/Advanced Hammered Dulcimer • July 19-20 Intermediate/Advanced Mountain Dulcimer • July 19-20 Dulcimers in the classroom - Teaching Music • July 23 - 26

The'Hammered(Dulcimer 'Handbook^ Kendra Ward

%endra 'Ward-'Bence,

classes taught by: David Schnaufer • Susan Jennings

For further Information, contact: Klngsley Meyer • U R G Box 8 7 8 • Rio Grande. Ohio

This is an exciting new method book for the beginning hammered dulcimer player, filled with 86 pages of instruction, information, and tunes! A must for both the new and the experienced player! ORDER TODAY! Book: $16.00 Book & Cassette: $21.00 AIvSO

AVAILABLE:

Stereo cassettes featuring Kendra Ward and The Lost Echo String Band! Bluegrass... Hammered Style A Rose Between Two Thorns $9.00 each

45674

(614) 2 4 5 - 5 3 5 3 • (800) 2 8 2 - 7 2 0 1 (Ohio only)

The French A r t Colony presents

The Ohio Valley Dulcimer Festival - J u l y 21 a n d

2 2 , 1 9 9 0 -

concerts • workshops «open stage • exhibitors • children's activities •camping • jamming David Schnaufer • Kendra Ward «Fred Meyer • Esther Kreek • Jerry Rockwell • Susan Jennings • Bob Hutchinson • Ellen Ford • Ten Penny Bit • The Lost Echo String Band

Send check or money order to: Kendra Ward-Bence Rt. 1, 31032 S.R. 325 Langsville, Ohio 45741 k

Please add $2.00 for shipping to each order, Thank you!

For more information, contact:

Tim Nyros, The French Art Colony P.O. Box 472 • 530 First Avenue • Gallipolis, Ohio 45741 (614) 446-3834

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TABLATURE CHART

H a m m e r

D u l c i m e r

by Linda Lowe Thompson

sound the same in both versions. Make the melody lineriseand fall in a pleasing manner. Utilize the small muscles of the left handfingersto achieve this same sound with the left hand lead. If you have a dulcimer with a different range than mine, you may be missing that one low E. Just omit it or play something else. If you use tablature, note that this chart is a bit different than the one-sharp one I've given you before. Just match up so that the lowest G on the right side of the treble bridge is your reference point. I think I'm already sounding better at the end of a week and it's been quite painless. I've been receiving lots of wonderful letters and I very much appreciate them. If I don't end up responding to your letter, look for your answer in this column. For instance, Luis, yours is being readied for the next column. If you have questions, requests, suggestions, please send them to me: Linda Thompson, 1517 Laurel wood, Denton TX 76201. 817/387^001. I'm writing this during the season of New Year's resolutions. George Orwell

I'm working very hard on playing tunes with ihe left hand while doing harmony with the right hand... I know this won't be as hard for you if you're left handed — such is life. It's not enough for me to execute it — I want it to sound musical. So, I took the first half of a tunc I had written and made it into an exercise. In version I, I make the melody go back and forth from the right hand to the left hand and add a few "licks" to make it sound full. In version II, the melody is in the left hand with a bit of right hand harmonies from time to time. Play this as slowly as you need in order to keep the melody sounding really nice and flowing. Play Version I once or twice, then play version II the same number of times. Go back and forth between them: Version I once, Version II once, etc. Listen very carefully. Try to make the melodies

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Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Technical IDH

D u l c i m e r

by Sam Rizzetta

n your 1987 article in American Lutherie, you stated that you now finish the entire inside of your hammered dulcimers and that you roll a coat of epoxy over the entire â&#x20AC;˘ inside surface of the soundboard. What do you finish the rest of the inside with, or do you also just seal the whole inside with epoxy? In making instruments with panels of solid wood, such as is common for dulcimer soundboards and backs, one must be concerned with expansion and contraction of the panels with changes in the moisture content of the wood due to changes in the humidity of the sounding air. The wood will tend to take on or release moisture in an attempt to reach equilibrium with the air. Wood panels that expand will tend to warp or buckle; panels that shrink will tend to crack. If you have an instrument with a crack in it, you may notice that the opening of the crack will change size with changes of the seasons. In climates where our room air is heated in winter, the humidity indoors can drop to an extremely low percentage which puts our wooden musical instruments at great risk. Part of the solution is to maintain a climate-controlled shop and allow all wood to season to equilibrium before building it into an instrument. This can take weeks or months or years, depending on the wood. The expense to do this will be reflected in the cost of the instrument, but the result is a more durable, trouble free instrument. I maintain my shop at 35% relative humidity. Resulting instruments can endure the usual range of humid summers to dry winters. The most common builder's error is to make instruments during the damp summer or in a relatively cool, humid basement shop. Under those conditions the relative humidity may soar to 55-75%. If the instrument is later used in a heated house in winter, the relative humidity of its environment may be as low as 2-8%. The wood loses moisture, shrinks rapidly, and cracks develop. If you live in a climate of seasonal change and cannot afford a climate-controlled work space, do your instrument building in winter when the heat is on. It is always better to make an instrument in an environment a bit more dry than the conditions it will encounter later in its working life. Think about where your instruments may go. If you build in Florida and ship to Arizona, trouble is in the cards. The other way around may be fine. Instruments can usually expand a bit with no problem, but shrinkage is often deadly. Besides controlling our building environment, we may try to prevent or slow the exchange of moisture between the instrument and the air. In fact, when we put a finish, such as varnish, etc. on an instrument we are doing just that. But if only the outside of an instrument is finished, the wood on the inside will exchange moisture with air at a faster rate than the outside, and troubles may follow. If both inside and outside arefinished,the rate of change should be slower and more uniform inside and out, greatly reducing the potential for the problems I've outlined. Obviously, many

fine instruments have been built and endured over the centuries without their insides beingfinished.But why not have everything going in your favor? I do not always finish the interior of the instrument. But I do it when I feel conditions warrant or the specific instrument would benefit. It probably does not much matter exactly what finish is used inside. I often use a wood saturation epoxy on soundboards and shellac on the rest of the interior if I choose to seal the rest of the interior. Shellac is quick, reasonably moisture resistant, and easily removed for repair work. Interior finishing is not all roses. On the down side, some types of repair will be complicated by the need to remove internal finish so that glues will adhere to those surfaces. The instrument may be wonderfully stable through the seasons due to your stellar workmanship, but it can still suffer mechanical damage. I've seen exuberant doggers knock the dulcimer off the stage and a drunk knock over a huge stack of PA speakersrightonto a lovely dulcimer (withfinishedinterior). And who can forget the ever-lovable airline baggage handlers? In addition, most instruments will mature and improve in tone with time. To the extent that some of this maturation is due to communication of the wood with the air, the process may be slowed (but not prevented) byfinishedinternal surfaces. In the final analysis, internal finishing is a judgement call based on your shop situation, the range of environments the instrument is called upon to endure, and the design and target goals of the instrument. It will not make a poor instrument better. But it may make a very special instrument more durable and trouble free, thus warranting the extra work and cost.

hat have been your conclusions concerning finish and sound quality, sustain, etc. Do you feel that |finishingwith polymerized Tung oil, or similar oil, inside and outside would be advisable? What do you think the effect would be on the sustain and sound quality? Regarding hammer dulcimers, I believe that variations in type of finish make little or no difference in tone or sustain of the tones once sounded. Some of the 18th and 19th century American dulcimers have soundboards with no finish at all, while more recent ones have thick layers of lacquer or polyurelhane. There are poor sounding and excellent sounding examples of each. I rather like polymerized Tung oil as a finish. It is "low tech," requiring no elaborate equipment, and is less a health and safety hazard than spraying lacquers. Thefinishedwood looks like wood and feels like wood. The finish is easily restored and touch-up repairs are quick, simple, and inexpensive. Oil finishes are not very durable nor as moisture resistant as thicker, built up finishes. And building up afinely-sealedpatine of many coats will be a slower process than with other finishes. Hammer dulcimers are large enough to be a bit unwieldy, yet are used as portable music machines. This ensures that they suffer many bumps and bruises. So, I often prefer oil finishes for their ease of renewal and pleasant working qualities. I like rubbing wood slowly by hand for long hours (we all have our hang-ups!).

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Fretted dulcimers, being plucked and more lightly strung and constructed, respond to finishes a bit differently. Again, I believe that in most cases the finish will make no difference that can be heard, or that anyone would care about if they heard it. An exception, however, is audible to me for dulcimers designed and built for fingerstyle playing as opposed to strumming with either noter or chord fretting. For me, afingerstyledulcimer must respond to a light touch for the player plucking individual melody notes or arpeggio chords with barefingers.Two instruments that are otherwise the same will sound slightly different in this mode, depending on the finish. In my experience, such instruments with penetrating oilfinisheshave a mellow, soft, warm and woody lone. Fretted dulcimers, identical but with lacquer or built up varnishfinishes,generally sound brighter with more articulation and projection. This may sound louder. Let me caution that such differences are often small and almost all other features and aspects of dulcimers have more influence on the sound than does finish. Violin fanatics may argue otherwise, but we're talking dulcimers here. I will be much more interested in hearing the sound and music you make than in arguing varnishes. If you are sufficicnUy intrigued by the finish question, you might make a series of identical instruments using different finishes and evaluate them. Of course, no two instruments are perfectly identical, so differences may not be due to finish. You could then strip the instruments and refinish them differenUy and listen for changed tone qualities. But the process of reworking instruments may change them more than the finish. Or your head or digestion or the temperature or humidity or a new painting on the wall may change the way you hear. I've done more such scientific, controlled experiments than I care to think about. Yet there are times when a wonderful instrument seems a piece of magic, and a poor one seems just an instrument in search of a different touch, or different ear, or, perhaps, a wood stove! 0

MAGGIE'S MUSIC Traditional music on hammered and fretted dulcimer, guitar, and other traditional instruments

Folk Music Studio— lessons • sales • rentals

Musicians available— for all events &. special occasions

Cassette tapes and Compact Discs—

Folk Harps From Folkcraft The Highland Harp, Sr. A finely crafted instrument, lightweight and portable with a full bodied voice. Honduran Mahogany with a tapered spruce soundboard. Nylon strung with 27 strings and sharping levers on the " F " & " C " strings. Includes display stand and tuning wrench.

$649.00 Hammered Dulcimers, Too

Model 16ABC Resilient sound and tuning stability are the result of our unique arched construction. Honduran Mahogany, walnut and maple with a black lacquered soundboard. 16 treble courses tuned in the keys of A, D , G , & C chromatic. 15 bass courses tuned in the keys of D, G , C & F .

$695.00 We also make Appalachian Dulcimers (6 models), Bowed and Plucked Psalteries, other Hammered Dulcimers, Instrument Kits and much more.

Irish & Scottish Specialists. T i n Whistles, Bodhrans, Flutes, Concertinas, Granger and Campbell Practice Chanters, Small Pipes and Military Pipes, Uillean Pipes, plus a complete collection of harp and dulcimer books and records.

Send S1 (refundable) for our complete catalog.

traditional music at its best!

For complete listings of cassettes and compact discs, information and bookings: MAGGIE'S MUSIC P.O. Box 4144 Annapolis, MD 21401 (301) 268-3394

P.O. Box 807D, Winsted, Connecticut 06098 (203) 379-9857 MasterCard and Visa accepted on phone orders Visit our retail stores in Winsted, Conn, and Wingdale, New York.

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E u r o

You can find a great dulcimer in New York City.

T u n e s

by David T. Moore

After the Rain A gallery of fine handcrafts in Soho

featuring Appalachian Dulcimers by Blue Lion, Ron Ewing & North Country Dulcimers and Hammered Dulcimers by Dusty Strings Also tongue drums, tabors and tabor pipes, ocarinas and kalimbas.

After the R a i n 149 Mercer Street New York. NY 10012 (212)431-1044

Open every day 12-7

Spring has arrived again and thefieldsare abloom with croci and daffodils. The warmer longer days are certainly welcome after the bitter cold darkness of Winter. The snowsfleenorthward and retreat into the high Alpine valleys. Once again it is a pleasure to stroll on sunny mornings. At midday one finds the outdoor cafes full of people enjoying the sun. In the evening, dancing spills over from ballrooms onto terraces. Life has returned in her fullness to Europe! This month I have selected a Swedish ham bo polska, "Varvindar Friska." The melody is in a minor key and to play this tune the dulcimer should be tuned to the Aeolian mode. Begin with a mixolydian tuning (D-A-D will do) and fret the bass string of the dulcimer at the sixth fret. Now tune the high string(s) to that note. You are now tuned to an Aeolian tuning, your scale begins on the first fret of the high strings and the octave is on the eighth fret. If you are unfamiliar with this scale, try to become accustomed to it by playing up and down the scale few times before you attempt the tune. I play a polska with a strong first beat in each measure. I have written the tablature for Varvindar Friska with this in mind: strum across the strings with a brisk strong stroke on the first beat of each measure. I find that I alternate between simply playing and using hammer-ons and pulloffs on the other notes in each measure. At the end of the tune, I pluck only the high note of the first beat of the last measure and strum across the strings on the second beat. I play the tune at a brisk waltz tempo. I hope you enjoy this tune and have a lovely Spring. We'll meet again in Summer! 0

THREE NEW BOOKS FROM COMMON TREASURY PUBLISHING by Dallas Cline THE CAPO BOOK #1: How to use a capo with the mountain dulcimer. 16 songs with chords. $8.95 ea Set includes book & capo $16.95 CAPO: designed by George Haggerty. This capo is molded of phenolic reinforced resin and has a curved top to help maintain pressure on strings. $8.95 ea CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: Unique carols, chants and rounds arranged in tablature for mountain dulcimer. Many tunes have harmonies and chords for two or three instruments, (all levels) $9.95

fElLENBAUij DULCIMER WORKSHOP m o u n t a i n d u l c i m e r s • b o w e d psaltries 28 Dunsmore Avenue • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • 704/669-5162

PACHELBEL'S CANON I N D: Players of all levels will find it easy to play any chosen part along with a recording or live group. Has tablature for mountain dulcimer & notation for hammered dulcimer and other instruments. $4.95 SHIPPING: $2.00 first item .50 each additional. COMMON TREASURY PUBLISHING P.O. Box 7223 Bloomficld, CT 06002

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Spring 1990 ? 21

Uarvindar Triska

Traditional Swedish Hambo Polska Tablature and Arrangement David T. Moore

Aeolian of D (D-A-C)

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Tablature and Arrangement © Copyright David T. Moore, 1989

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AN INTERVIEW WITH

BY JODY MARSHALL

How

did you

Maryland

get involved

Renaissance

with

the

tunes

Festival?

About five years ago, a friend of mine suggested I audition for i t I didn't know much about it, but I tried out anyway and they hired me. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I scraped together a costume and showed up at the Festival and started playing. Within a few minutes, I had sold all the tapes I'd brought with me. I thought, "Wow, this is interesting!" and it was a lot of fun, too. There is a lot of interaction between me as performer and the people who gather around to watch me play. After a while I started developing a character as a gypsy musician. Through the years I've learned a lot about showmanship — how to project and get die crowd involved. I wander around the Renaissance Village with my Hide gypsy cart — my husband made it for me — and I carry my instruments in it. I'm very portable! These role

days

you

also

play

at the Renaissance

addition

another Festival

How

performing.

Yes, I'm now the Music Director. For a long time there was a need for a liaison between all the different musicians and the Entertainment Director. The Renaissance Festival has over 200 entertainers and about half of mem are musicians, so it became important to have someone who could help solve any problems that came up. As Music Director, it's my job to recommend musical acts, assist in scheduling the stage shows, and attend production meetings and auditions.

do you go about to play

at the

Where

picking

did you

dulcimerfor

Renaissance

bear

the first

and

Festival?

what

I look through a lot of recorder, lute, and guitar music from the period. I've played the recorder for 25 years so I have lots of recorded music. There are collections of medieval dance tunes for recorder and they're in keys easily adaptable to the hammered dulcimer. I really like some of the ancient country dance tunes — the saltarellos and estampies, especially. The John Playford Collection of English Country Dance Tunes is also a great source.

About ten years ago I was visiting friends in Key West, Florida. At that time, I was a mandolin player in an Irish band in Baltimore called Kids on a Mountain. There was a sunset concert series on the boardwalk in Key West and one evening I saw a guy playing a hammered dulcimer in a suing band. I was fascinated. I sat down and listened to him for a long time and I decided I was going to get one of those instruments. I did some research on the different kinds of dulcimers that were available and, in a few months, I'd gotten one.

in addition tival, you

what

to the Renaissance other

kinds

of gigs

Fes-

What

do?

do you

What

like best

about

reaction?

I perform for special events, parties, weddings, outdoor festivals and small gatherings. I also play colonial dance music in the drawing rooms of historic houses in Annapolis in full colonial costume. By the way, the hammered dulcimer is known to have been played at a recital in the mid18th century in Annapolis. I also perform in small ensembles with a variety of musicians who play harp, viola da gamba, guitar and fiddle.

ing hammered

was your

hammered time

play-

dulcimer?

I like the action. It's fun to play; it's like melodic drumming.

kind

of dulcimer

did you

get?

A Rizzetta custom chromatic. I drove through a snow storm for seven hours to pick it up personally from Sam Rizzetta when he was living up in the mountains of West Virginia. I was very excited to get one! It has three strings per course and a very clear bell-like tone which I love. Explain

your

of teaching mered

"chopstick yourself

to play

method" ham-

dulcimer.

Before I got my dulcimer, Sam Rizzetta sent me a chart of the way the instrument is set up. I sat down with a pair of chopsticks and practiced the pattern for "Soldier's Joy," and when I finally got my dulcimer I was able to play the tunerightoff the bat! I sometimes Gnd this method helpful even now. It's a way to "practice" when you don't have your dulcimer handy.

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Spring 1990 V 23

"Come hear the ring of the wondrous dulcimer string!" The setting is an English village, and the year is.. .well, if you' re willing to let your imagination get the better of you, it could sometime in the 1500s. The minstrel inviting you to listen to the enchanting sound of the hammered dulcimer is Maggie Sansone, a longtime performer at the annual Renaissance Festival near Annapolis, Maryland. Maggie Sansone, a native of Miami, Florida, is a talented and versatile musician who has been teaching and performing on traditional folk instruments for over 20 years. She performs music of other times and other lands throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia and is the owner of Maggie's Music, a folk music resource and a studio offering lessons and instruments in Annapolis, Maryland. Maggie's Music is also a nationally distributed independent record label that provides cassettes and compact discs featuring hammered dulcimer and other traditional instruments.

ested in "high-tech" applications to traditional music. I've got four-track recording equipYes, but now I also have a new Rizzetta that's more chromatic and goes to a low D. ment in my house. And I'm very excited by the possibilities of using this equipment, TeU me a little about your musical along with my new synthebackground sizer, as a musical sketch pad to Basically, I've been playing music all my work out arrangements. life. I studied piano as a kid and there was always music around the house. My father played jazz piano, and when I was growWho has influenced you musically, ing up we'd sit down at the piano together. especially in terms of the hamI'd play the boogie-woogie, left-hand part, mered and he'd improvise. Every year I'd get a dulcimer? new instrument to learn. My favorite was I like to listen to a lot of different players. the bassoon. In terms of getting ideas for my own playing, I tend to focus more on different types of music, rather than on dulcimer players Do you stilt play any of the instruthemselves. I listen to a lot of Medieval ments you played as a kid? and Renaissance music, of course. Middle I still play recorder, guitar, banjo, manEastern music, and 20lh century piano dolin, and piano. My newest instrument is music. a synthesizer and it has a bassoon button! Actually, I got the synthesizer mainly for composing and arranging. I'm really inter-

Are you

still

using

that

first

dul-

cimer?

R E C O R D I N G S BY MAGGIE SANSONE Hammer Dulcimer & Guitar (MM101), 1984, cassette Hammered Dulcimer Traditions (MM 102), 1987, cassette Sounds of the Season (MM103), 1988, cassette and compact disc Traditions (MM104), 1989, double album compact disc compilation of MM101 and MM 102 Other

recordings

With Seam us Kennedy on Irish and Scottish (1989) With Crab Alley on Back Creek Crab (1986) For more information, you can write to: Maggie's Music, P.O. Box 4144, Annapolis, Maryland 21403 (301) 268-3394.

How

would

playing

you

characterize

your

style?

I like to play with a strong rhythmic approach, adding chords and syncopations to embellish the melody. Do you

feel

approach the

your have

style changed

and through

years?

Yes, definitely. With each recording I make, I can hear how my playing has changed. These days, as I get more and more into different kinds of music, I often find myself taking a more improvisational approach. My arrangements are becoming more complex and intricate, with a lively interplay between the other instruments that accompany me. What yourself

musical taking

direction

do you

in the

future?

see

Right now I'm interested in early 20th century composers who have taken traditional folk melodies and arranged them with a modem feeling, like Be la Bartok and the Hungarian folk melodies he researched and incorporated into his wonderful piano pieces. I also like Japanese music and I'm

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

continued on the next page

Supplies for Dulcimer Makers From Folkcraft

Maggie Sansone continued

Folkcraft is your source for instrument making supplies. All wood is carefully dried and seasoned. Tops, backs, sides, and fingerboards are sanded to exact tolerances and matched. You'll also find quality accessories and strings, and quick delivery. Items within the same category may be combined for quantity discounts. Example: 4 walnut backs 2 cherry backs, use the 6-11 price for each. Orders for 50 or more pieces in the same category receive a \09< additional discount from the 12 and up price.

DULCIMER BACKS

Dm i enso i ns 7" x 32' x 1/8" lor 1 pc 8' x 32" x 1/8" for 2 pc (two 4" pes) Item* 1-9 6-11 12&up 501 Chery 1 pc 710 6 75 610 502 Chery 2 pc 7 10 6.75 610 lut 1 pc 503 Wan 770 7 35 6 60 504 Wan lut 2 pc 7 70 7.35 660 505 Hond Mahogany 1 pc 730 695 6 25 506 Hond Mahogany 2 pc 730 695 625 l 1 pc 507 Bdseye Mape 8 95 8.50 765 l 2 pc 508 Bdseye Mape 8 95 850 765 l Mape l 1 pc 509 Cury 920 8 70 785 l Mape l 2 pc 5-0 Cury 9 20 8.70 785 i n Rosewd 2 pc 511 E Inda 17 45 1660 1495 5'3 Padauk 1 pc.... 840 800 720 514 Padauk2pc 840 800 7 20 SOUNDBOARDS

Dm i enso i ns 7" x 32" x 1/8' for 1 pc 8" x 32" x 1/8' for 2 pc (two 4" pes) Sitka Spruce and W R Cedar are vertical ga rm 5 50 No 1 Spruce 1 pc 780 740 551 No 1 Spruce 2 pc 740 7.05 553 W R Cedar 1 pc 740 7.05 554 W R Cedar 2 pc 740 7.05 555 Buternut 1 pc 770 7.30 556 Buternut 2 pc 770 7.30

DULCIMER TAIL BLOCKS

Dm i enso i ns 2" x 1 1/2' x 3" 850 Chery 851 Wan lut 852 Hond Mahogany 853 Clr Mape l 854 Bdseye Mape l 855 Cury l Mape l 856 E Inda i n Rosewd 858 Padauk (2 pc ONLY)

200 210 200 185 215 2 20 7 30 225

1 80 1.90 1.80 165 195 1.95 6 55 200

1.60 170 165 150 1.75 1 75 590 1 80

learning some African tunes. I have a wonderful collection of drums and tambourines from around the world and I study drumming and Middle Eastern rhythms. Tell

me about

your

teaching.

I teach both private lessons and group classes. For beginning classes, I have a collection of rental dulcimers that I make available to the students. I teach scales, DULCIMER TUNING PEGS back-up chords, arpeggios, hammered MACHN I E HEADS - n i dv id i uasl wtih screws, for horziontal mounn tig, techniques and lots of tunes. whtie plastic buton 3024 set of 4 $7.30 3026 49-144 $l40ea 3025 5-48 S155 ea 3027 145* up $1.25 ea When you're not teaching, perGROVER "PERMA-TENSION" - pegs wtih pearo ld i butons (Set of 4) 3030 (1 Set) $29.50 (2-4) $23.50 (5-11) $19 60 (12 & up)forming $14.75 or recording, you've been 3040 Rosewood buton add $2 00/set known

to get involved

with

some

other interesting projects. FRICTION PEGS 670 3050 Ebony $2 50ea. 3060 Rosewood $2.25 ea Describe your television experi635 6.35 STEWART -MAC00NALD FIVE-STAR DULCM I ER PEGS ence. 635 Pearo ld i buton (Set of 4) 6.60 3065 (1 Set) $61 95 (2) $54 60 (3-5) $37 75 (6 & up) SLast 33 98autumn, die National Geographic 6 60 STRINGS Buk l Packed (Combnie Sizes for Best Dsicount) special on public television entitled GrizDULCIMER SIDE SETS Plain Sizes 009 - 013 Wound Sizes .020 - 026 zlies featured my hammered dulcimer P l a i n S i z e s W o u n d S i z e s Dm i enso i ns 2" x 32" x 1/10" (2 pes) -12Strings 45ea 115ea playing on the soundtrack. Also, I was 601 Chery 325 290 2 60 1 3-48 Strings .25 ea. 95 ea 602 Wan lut 3.55 3.20 2.90 19 -144 Strings 20 ea 75 ea soloist on hammered dulcimer for the 603 Hond Mahogany 3 35 300 2 70 4 145-288 Strings 15 ea. 55 ea 604 Bdseye Mape l 475 4 25 3 85 2 recording Dunescapes, an original musi8 9 & U p S t r i n g s 1 2 ea. . 4 5 e a 605 Cury l Mape l 485 435 390 — SPECIFY BALL OR LOOP END — cal composition commissioned to accom606 E Inda i n Rosewd 875 790 710 608 Padauk 390 3 55 315 pany a photographic exhibit shown in FRET WIRE 18% Nickel-silver. Pre-strag i htened. 2 e l ngths FINGERBOARDS 4090 per foot $ 85 museums around the country. These proDm i enso i ns 3/4" x 32" x 1 1/2* 5000 1/4b l (about 19) $810 650 Chery jects involved very difficult music and my 7 . 1 0 6 7 5 6 1 0 651 Wan lut $25 00 770 735 6 60 5010 11b 652 Hond Mahogany classical backgrond and sightreading came 7.30 695 625 DULCIMER CASES CHIPBOARD Fo l ck Ln i ed 653 Clr Mape l 645 615 550 TEARDROP 37-1/2" x 7-1/2" x 4" in hand. 654 Bdseye Mape l 845 805 7 25 655 Cury l Mape l 8 7 0 8 2 5 7 . 4 5 5 0 1 6 ( 1 ) $ 2 8 . 5 0 ( 2 ) S 2 2 8 0 e a ( 3 5 ) $ 1 9 0 0 e a (6 4 u p ) $ 1 4 9 8 e a 656 E Inda i n Rosewd 19 75 18 75 16 90 HOURGLASS 39-1/2" x 4" deep Lower curve 7-1/2". upper curve 6". Right now you have several new 840 800 720 scrol wd 658 Padauk i th 4" in the works, don't you? NUT, BRIDGE & FRET SLOTS PRE-CUT FOR 27" 5015 (DS28 50 ( 2)$22 80ea (3-5)$19 00ea (64 up)$14 98earecordings I am producing two new recordings to be PATTERN (18 FRET SLOTS) S2 00/FN I GERBOARDZITHER TUNING PEGS Nc i kel pa l ted 11002 each 30 11020 Pkg of 500 75.00 released in 1990 - Sound of the Season, DELRIN PLASTIC NUT AND BRIDGE STOCK 11000 Pkg of 50 12 50 11030 Pkg of 1000 110 00 Volume II and a collection of ancient 700 To fit above $1 00 per ft11010 Pkg of250 47 50 Celtic melodies from Ireland, Scotland, DULCIMER PEG HEADS Write for our complete supply list. Dm i enso i ns 1 1/2" x 3" x 8' for 1 pc Circle 1 pc or 2 pc Dulcimer, Hammered Dulcimer and Isle of Man, and Gallecia. 1 1/2" x 3" x 8" (two 3/4" pes) Bowed Psaltery! 750 Chery 485 4 35 3 90 751 Wan lut 535 4 80 430 SHIPPING - Most orders shipped via UPS. Pe l ase include youYou r busy 752 Hond Mahogany 500 4 50 4 05 street address with order Orders up to S100: Mn im i um ship- must stay extremely 753 Bdseye Mape l 5 55 5 00 4 50 ping charge for woods and accessories - $5.00. Orders of $1since 01 you do every thing yourself. 754 Cury l Mape l 5 70 5 15 4 60 and up: Add 5c of the total order We wil bill tor additional 755 E Inda i n Rosewd 1460 1315 1180 shipping when orders contain large quantities of heavy items.All the marketing, promoting, advertising, 757 Padauk (2 pc ONLY) 590 530 475 everything. Each aspect of the music business could be a full time job! 0 r

Box 807, Winsted, CT 06098

(203) 379-9857

VISA A N D M A S T E R C A R D A C C E P T E D O N P H O N E O R D E R S

Jody Marshall is a hammered dulcimer player with Ironweed, a trio based in the Washington, D.C. area.

Please do not reprint or redistribute without permission. Contact dpn@dpnews.com

Spring 1990 if 25

When we ran Barbara Jane Zaino's arrangement of Christmas Lullabye in the October-December 1989 Dulcimer Players News, we omitted the countermelody. It is printed below so those who would like to play the piece as a duet will have all of the parts. If Fingering: I = Index M = Middle R = Ring P = Pinky

you do not have a copy of the melody arrangement which appeared in the fall DPN, ask us - we have permission to duplicate that part - and send along a stamped envelope. As Time Magazine might say. We regret the error.

C h r i s t m a s

f u l l a b y e

(countermetody)

Af 1

3=3= = = = =5=5=5 cf s**er pt^d* SMf-ifynmr

5=5=5

Come $>,nh«r 'y»j»id nnr1he r*a-v«»-)y LeT its *i*f tii+ a S»e«T lyU.2t

—

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by Barbara Jane Zaino 1988

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•—.

Jeannie Tomanica 8250 Mt. Garfield Nunica, MI 49448

FREE CATALOG

CA TA LOGUE A VAIL A OLE

Mail O r d e r F o l k M u s i c C e n t e r • T U N E and INSTRUCTION B O O K S lor autoharp. banio harp, fiddle, guitar, dulcimers, melodeon, whistle, pipes recorder, concertinas, bones

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Folkestone

News

the midwest's only folk/acoustic news magazine Folkestone News exists to support and promote folk/acoustic music in Indiana and the surrounding states. Its goal is to establish a network among people who have an interest in folk music -- the performers, presenters, and all of the people who love to listen to the different types of music which fall into a broad definition of folk (bluegrass, old-ume, ethnic, traditional, contemporary folk. etc.). Inside the pages of Folkestone News you 11 find featured articles on regional artists, calendar of events, record reviews, news about regional folk events, and much more. $12 per year $15 by First Class published quarterly

— 4

For an introductory copy send $1.00 to: Folkestone New,, PO Box 2763 West Lafayette, IN 47906

'4j C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! G i b S o s m a n 1989 N a t i o n a l M o u n t a i n D u l c i m e r C h a m p i o n After Gib won the Mountain Dulcimer contest at Walnut Valley on September 15, he wrote the following about his new koa McSpadden Custom Dulcimer: "Thanks for the beautiful custom koa dulcimer which I won this year. Now I have three of your instruments. . .1 want to say that the quality is just excellent — simply first-class all the way."

Gib has no recordings so far, but if you would like to contact him about a performance, write to: Gib Sosman, 832 E. 12th, Lawrence. KS. 66044.

OUR C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S A L S O T O N E I L G A S T O N , who won second place at Winfield. playing the McSpadden dulcimer he won in the Southern Regional Contest in 1988. Neil has a book and cassette set. Music of the Heart, and a new cassette, Maid of the Mountain. Both are available from The Dulcimer Shoppe or from: Neil Gaston. 816 Elmwood Dr.. Edmond. OK. 73013. Again, congratulations to Gib and Neil — and thanks for playing McSpadden mountain dulcimers in a way that makes us all winners! catalogue $1.50

McSpadden

Musical

Instruments

P O . Box 1230 DPN Highway 9 North MOUNTAIN VIEW. ARKANSAS 72560 Phone 501-269-4313

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D u l c i m e r edited by Judy Ireton

A special thank you to all those who took the time to respond to the postcard sent to you for updating your club records. This month I received more correspondence than I have ever gotten before. If you find your club listed and the contact person is not the right individual, drop us a note giving the correct information and perhaps something about your group. From Newport News, Virginia and Linda DePerro comes news about VA.M.P.S., RA.M.P.S., and F.OAM. For all you very amateur hammered dulcimer players, rowdy Appalachian music players, or just friends of Appalachian music who participate in contra dancing one Saturday a month, call Linda at 804/872—7839 for more information and a schedule of each group's meetings. Linda tells me the groups have both doubled in

Spring 1990 ? 27

Clubs size since September. Wonderful! Not too far away, in Mannington, West Virginia, is the meeting place of the Mountaineer Dulcimer Club. On September 23,1989, the membership held a special day, a tribute to Russell Fluharty, or The Dulcimer Man, as he was so often called. Russell passed away in March 1989, leaving a heritage of which anyone would be proud. Not only did he found the Mountaineer Club many, many years ago, but he is known nationally for his efforts at preserving the hammered dulcimer and its music. More than one hundred guests came to pay a special tribute to this marvelous person. To watch and listen to Russell play was to see history in action. He loved his instrument, its music, and, most importanUy, loved to share with all who would listen. He seemed always to be in awe of the number of players around today. He commented one day at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshops that there were more dulcimer players in one room than he had met in the first thirty years of his life. It is with special thanks to

you, Russell, that the instrument and its music was preserved to capture the interest of so many today. 1990's Convention of the Mountaineer Dulcimer Club will be held April 21st. From Texas and the Lone Star State Dulcimer Society comes a letter with tales of a successful past festival and hopes for the Winter Festival of Acoustic Music yet to come. What an exciting roster of performers and workshop leaders. You keep quite busy with your workshops, performing, and jamming, let alone having two Festivals. The Society reports that two sets of parents of members celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversaries. May we add our congratulations. Congratulations also to all the folks at the Greater Pinelands Dulcimer Society up New Jersey way. They celebrated their 10th Anniversary in October with a dinner, dancing and playing (plus an autographed dinner menu). From Newburgh, Indiana comes news continued on the next page

STRINGS OF JOY A brand new solo dulcimer instrumental recording by K E V I N R O T H . 28 instru mentals performed by one of the leading innovators of dulcimer music today. S T R I N G S O F J O Y (JAK-06) $9.98 postage included. • * DREW SMITHS Write for a free catalog:

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28 "if Dulcimer Players News

Dulcimer Clubs continued from the Southern Hollow Dulcimer and Folk Group. They meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Newburgh — Ohio Township Public Library. For further information, contact Jean Ham, 25 W. Main St., Newburgh, IN 47630. Many clubs have written with new officers and new contacts, and we thank you all. From Michigan way, the Silver Strings Dulcimer Society responded with news about a very busy schedule. Also from Michigan and the Original Dulcimer Players Club came news of the marriage of their President. Congratulations to Wes Linenkugel and his bride Kim. A most unusual communication arrived, again from the Pontiac, Michigan area, and I am beginning to worry. This is not the first piece of mail to arrive addressed with proper spelling. The names of the people who sign these communications are really strange. The most recent was from Hatah Mahri with, again, thisridiculousreference to being in tune. Perhaps it's the cold winters that have taken their toll on this poor woman who calls herself the Godmother. How scary it must be to have to deal with someone who can brandish a pair of wire cutters at the drop of a tone. She keeps alluding to the imaginary state of "being in tune." If I may borrow from — or outright plagiarize — a quote I heard regarding harps: hammer dulcimer players spend half their time tuning and the other half playing out of tune! Think about it. There is a lot of truth in that statement. From Auntie Lu, also a resident of

WHAMDIDDLE

Pontiac, Michigan, came her annual Christmas letter. She seems quite happy at the "Sunshine Home for the Forgetful." Now that she has a tad more time, she is revising her most recent book, Zen and the Art of Dulcimer Tuning. If the title whets your intellectual appetite, I fear you must wait to get a copy as she is off on an international tour to visit Hemlock, the home of the Nearly-Famous. There is great news though. She has promised that her greatest work will be available soon: Designer Music By Jordache. Where is the end of this woman's vast talents?

Dish Supper March 4th with food, workshops, jamming, and fun for all. The Western North Carolina Dulcimer Collective sent its newsletter along with several North Carolina tunes from Steve Smith. A query of their members echos the thoughts of several society newsletters. As the groups grow and adds other instruments, it becomes important to define or redefine intent and purpose to meet the changing membership. Many groups have begun with strictly mountain dulcimer players, only to branch out to include all acoustic instruments.

Dennis Moran sends news from Oklahoma about the Indian Territory Dulcimer Celebration. A Dulcimer Festival is planned for July. The Flower City Dulcimer Club of Rochester, New York is still going strong, though numerous members have moved to other cities and/or states. Meetings are Wednesday evenings in various members home. The New York City Dulcimer Club suffered a slight set back when its founder and President, Linda Hall, moved to Buffalo. Valerie Battey will be the contact person for now at 339 Walton St., W. Hempstead, NY 11552. At this time, Valerie is looking for a meeting place. Linda has set out already to start a new group in the Buffalo area. If you live in the area and are interested in playing or listening, contact Linda Hall at her new address 219 Crestwood Lane, Williamsville, NY 14221.

The North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association held theirfirstFestival at the Sautee Nacoochee Arts and Community Center and were overjoyed, at the attendance and fantastic festival. Hurricane Hugo, being not fond of dulcimer music, kept its distance. The weather report had given little hope, yet everyone came and a good time was had by all. A special welcome to two new dulcimer groups in the midwest. Bernice Campbell writes to invite anyone in the Mansfield, OH area to join the new hammered dulcimer group — Buckeye Hammer Dulcimer Society — the first Thursday of every month at Kingwood Center. For more information contact Bernice at 419/896-2808. Cammie Brown writes from Bardstown, Kentucky to let everyone know in that area that the Nelson County Dulcimer Society has begun getting together and everyone who plays mountain or hammered dulcimer is welcome to join them. You may contact Cammie at 502-5495306. I have already lifted one quote in this column. To prove that I may indeed be shameless, I am going to lift another one from Linda Thompson and the LSSDS Newsletter: "This space reserved for brilliant, funny informative articles/items written by you and sent to.

The Off The Wall Dulcimer Society meets the first Sunday of each month at the St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in New Kingstown, PA from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. They held their second annual Covered

Instruments and accessories Handcrafted by Rick Fogel since 1975 D u l c i m e r s • Psaltries • B o n e s Kits • Stands • H a m m e r s Tapes • Books • Plans

Chromatic Model with Dampers

Judy Ireton 6865 ScarffRoad, New Carlisle, OH 45344 0

Please write for catalogue 2705 W. Meadow Drive Chesapeake, VA 23321

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Spring 1990 ? 29

D u l c i m e r At long last we have some centralized information for those of you wishing to find other dulcimer players and clubs trying to encourage new members. This directory is a cooperative effort between Judy Ireton (DPN clubs editor) and Maddie MacNeil (DPN editor/publisher). It entailed two mailings and one notice in the winter issue of Dulcimer Players News. A few weeks ago I received a long-in-the-making wellresearched resource book. Immediately I saw information that was now incorrect and resources not covered because they just became available. I'd be wallowing in self-delusion if I felt that everything listed below is complete and absolutely correct! But, most of it is, I'm sure, and we'll add deleted (for whatever reason) clubs in issues to come. Thank you for helping us with the information we needed when we needed it, Maddie MacNeil Southern Appalachian Dulcimer Assoiation A. J. Hayes 949 Meg Drive Birmingham, AL 35215 Decatur Area Dulcimer Group Robbi Robbins 24 Harborview Court, N.E. Decatur. AL 35601 Shoals Dulcimer & Folk Music Association Charles E. Keys 2024 Alpine Dr. Florence, AL 35630 205/764-5383 4th Saturday, May Festival Mountain Dulcimer Association Ann Maulsby 416 Green Acres Dr., NW Hunts ville.AL 35805

C l u b s

205/837-4984 3rd SaL Library. Help for Beginners. Deep South Dulcimer Association Mike Saviak 4311 Binghamton Dr. Mobile, AL 36619 3rd Mon. Central Alabama Dulcimer Players Association Royce Slate 3406 Somerville Drive Montgomery, AL 36111 205/263-3576 3rd Thurs. Ala-Sippi Dulcimer Association Archie Lee Rt. 3. Box 494 Red Bay, AL 35582 2 Fests. each year (April/Oct)

D i r e c t o r y

Claremont, CA 91711 714/625-8005 1st Sunday, Beg. lessons Peninsula Mountain Dulcimer Society Beverly Wilkinson 10379 Lansdale Ave. Cupertino, CA 95014 408/446-0379 2nd Saturday San Diego Folk Song Society c/o 1175 Brockton S l El Cajon. CA 92020 San Diego Hammer Jam mors Jim Hayes 1928 Leucadia Scenic CL Leucadia, CA 92024 619/944-5133 3rd Sun.

Tuscaloosa Dulcimer Club Bill Alexander 4920 East 10th Ave. Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 205/345-7803

Peninsula Hammer Dulcimer Society Jan Kirkley PO Box 60766 Palo Alto. CA 94306 415/494-3117

Bella Vista Dulcimer Society Virginia Houghton Rt. l.Box 110 Gravette. AR 72736 501/787-6091 1 st and 3rd Tuesdays

San Francisco Folk Music Club 885 Clayton St. San Francisco, CA 94117 415/661-2217 Every other Friday meetings/Folk Fes l.

Crowley's Ridge Dulcimer Society Jan Magee 1107 Thrush Road Jonesboro, AR 72401 501/935-5439 1 st and 3rd Monday/Help for beginners

California Traditional Music Society Clark & Elaine Weissman 4401 Trancas Place Tarzana, CA 91356 818/342-7664 June Festival/Concerts/Journal 2X a year

Ozark Dulcimer Society Marilyn Ott 1809 Gordon Ozark, AR 72949 501/667-4816 Beginning dulcimer players

North American Folk Music & Dance Association c/o Elaine & Clark Weissman 4401 Trancas Place Tarzana, CA 91356 818/342-7664 Annual January Conference

Arizona Dulcimer Society Louise Pelissier PO Box 42885 Phoenix, AZ 85080 602/990-0822 3rd Fri. 7:30, Encanto Park Clubhouse

Oak Glen Dulcimer Players Gladys Eichenberger 39375 Clearwater Dr. Yucaipa. CA 92399 714/797-4260 3rd Sun. 2-5. MD/HD

Mill Creek Dulcimer Club 8755 La Vine S l AltaLoma,CA 91701 714/987-5701 2nd Sun. 2-5 p.m. MD. All levels

Durango Dulcimer Society Ann Chambers 18101 North U.S. Hgwy 666 Cortez, CO 81321 303/882-4443

Claremont Hammer Dulcimer Organization Larry Hall 976 W Foothill Blvd.. Suite 400

Last Chance Dulcimer Society Carolyn Pope 10630 Utrilla Lane Northglenn. CO 80234

Branford Folk Music Society Deborah Winograd Box 441 Branford, CT 06405 203/488-7715 Presents concerts Orlando Dulcimer Gathering Peter Abdalla 2985 Harbour Landing Way Casselberry. F L 32707 407/699-8790 2nd SaL 1 p.m./All levels (almost) North Georgia Foothills Dulcimer Association Bill Buffington 5375 Thompson Mill Rd. Hoschton. GA 30548 404/967-2176 4th Thurs. Mainly MD. All levels River City Friends of Folk Music Patricia Walke RR Sabula, IA 52070 319/687-2728 Hands - Midwest Diane Ippel PO Box 792 Morris. IL 60450 Dulcimer Friends Barb Ernst 214 Siebert Rd. O'Fallon. IL 62269 618/624-8100 4th Mon. Champaign-Urbana Dulcimer Society Diane Hillard 804 W. Vermont Urbana,IL61801 217/367-1359 3rd Tues., 7 p.m. Library Auditorium Warrenville Folk Music Dona Benkert PO Box 248 Warrenville, IL 60555 708/717-8495 2nd & 4th Tuesdays Dulcimer Society of Northern Illinois 835 Linden Avenue Wilmette,IL 60091 708/256-0121 Tri-State Folk Music Society Bob Gehring c/o IPFW Dept of Eng. & Ling. FL Wayne. IN 46805

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continues

30 v Dulcimer Players News

D u l c i m e r Central Indiana Folk Music/ Mountain Dulcimer Society Mona Craig P.O. Box 1503 Indianapolis, IN 46206 317/844-9350 2nd Sun. 2-5 p.nx/Bethlehem Lutheran Japan Dulcimer Club Mokoto Kaburagi 4-1-461-301 Suma, Kobe 654-01 Japan Flinthills Dulcimer Club c/o Music Emporium 301 N. Main Street El Dorado. KS 67042 316/321-0961 4lh Sat., 12:30 p.m. Beginners welcome Prairie Dulcimer Club Lilah Gillette 8709 Goddard Overland Park, KS 66214 913/888-0787

C l u b s

D i r e c t o r y

Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance Wichita Susan Shaffer RR 3. Box 44 Udall, KS 67146

The Bayou Dulcimer Club Beverly Bishop 326 S. Gayoso Street New Orleans. LA 70119 504 -821-2065

Nelson County Dulcimer Society Cammie Brown Bardstown, K Y 40004 502/549-5306 MD/HD. Club just forming

Hammers A Noters Dulcimer Society Fred Bird 419 Park Road Rockville. MD 20850 301/279-7928 Two camping weekends per year

The Louisville Dulcimer Society PO Box 16242 Louisville. K Y 40256 502/239-8854 4th Sun. at 4 p.m. Beginners welcome

Classical Hammered Dulcimer Association Pete Benson 7425 Village Rd., Apt. 11 Sykesville, MD 21784 301/549-3619

Central KY Hammered Dulimer Club Bob L. Wyatt 153 Beech Court Versailles, K Y 40383 606/873-6720

H E A D L I N E

Michagan Friends of Traditional Music Gail L. Schwandt 427 N. Line St. Chesaning, MI 48616 517/845-6420 2nd Thursday of month

Hartwick Highbinders Bob & Sandy Holder R l 2, 5907 East 14 Mile Road Evart, MI 49631 616/734-5125 2nd Tues. 7-10:30 p.m. Teaching 1st hour. Original Dulcimer Players Club Donna Beckwith 817 Innes. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 616/459-6716 Sponsors July ODPC Fun Fesl Thornapple Valley Dulcimer Society Stanley Pierce 4905 N. Broadway Hastings, MI 49058 616/945-4066 Folk Music Society of Midland Karen Baker 814 Wyllys St. Midland. MI 48640 517/835-2582 2nd I-'ri. at library aud. Hootenanies.

POQ S E R I O U S PLAYERS AND C O L L E C T O R S

WILL

SUNHEARTH PRODUCTION

END

IOOO

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9UNI4EAQTM-eo^74- RCAR1NG SPRING, PA-lfcfcT7*> (314)224-2090

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Spring 1990 ? 31

D u l c i m e r The Jolly Hammers & Strings Dulcimer Club Bill Kuhlman 2769 S. Homer Rd. Midland, MI 48640 517/835-5085 4th Sat., 1-4:30 Chippewa Nature Cen. Ladies Dulcimer & Terrorist Society Hatah Mahri 3715 Lincolnshire Pontiac, MI 48054 313/652-2948 Paint Creek Folklore Society Glen Mornings tar 3715 Lincolnshire Pontiac, MI 48054 1st SaL of month Saginaw Guild of Lap Dulcimers Barb Steele 6141 Canton Drive Saginaw, MI 48603 517/792-9492

C l u b s

Uncle Carl's Dulcimer Club Barbara Borton 10199 Spring Arbor Rd. #8 Spring Arbor, MI 49283

D i r e c t o r y

Not So Dulcimer Society Stephen Taylor 747 Harvard SL Louis, MO 63130 314/725-4052 4th Sun. Beginners esp. welcome

Silver Strings Dulcimer Society Sue Forbes 4317 WestoverCt. W. Bloomfield, MI 48033 313/626-3799

The Very Hammered Dulcimer Society Renee Poirier 6320 Sprig Oak Court St. Louis, MO 63128 314/849-8184 Meet once a mo., usually Sun., in homes

Glass Notes Dulcimer Club Edith Kindig 674 Parkview Dr. Weidman, MI 48893 517/644-2696 3rd Mon. Beginners encouraged

Western North Carolina Dulcimer Collective Steve Smith 607 East Blue Ridge Rd. E. Flat Rock, NC 28726 704/697-6388 2nd Sun. All insL & levels welcome

Woodland Strings Dulcimer Club Len Sharon 410 SE 8th St. Little Falls. MN 56345 612/632-8608 Meets about once a month

Raleigh Hammered Dulcimer Club Dan Gil vary 605 Riverview Dr. Raleigh, NC 27610 919/231-9723 1 st Tues at Sertome Arts Center Wildwood Dulcimer Club Nancy Amsler 12555 Weir St. Omaha, NE 68137

Ashe Dulcimer Club Pansy Whicker 306 Quail Hollow Road Jefferson, NC 28640

You know that Lucille Reilly writes great hammered dulcimer booksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; but can she play?

Can she ever!

At Last! Lucille Reilly, hammered dulcimer with Bob Pasquarello, piano & guitar B a r b a r a Greenberg, violin featuring dance tunes from Striking Out... and WINNING! plus classical and popular pieces, including Bach's Breakdown and Memory. Bravo! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Barbara Jablonski, Rochester, N Y Available in L P or cassette from your local music dealer OR send $9.98 (in NJ, add 6% sales tax) plus $ 2

Margaret Gilmore Memorial Dulcimer Club Rev. Max A. Gilmore POBox 1084 Pinehurst, NC 28374 919/295-6043 Meets 1st Thursdays/Scholarship Fund

shipping to:

SHADRACH PRODUCTIONS P.O. Box 49D, Basking Ridge. NJ 07920

continues

Cardboard Dulcimers We make sturdy, inexpensive instruments, ideal for beginning players, schools and camping trips. Our kits are designed for novice builders. All parts are pre-cut. Assembly takes two hours, requires no sharp or unusual tools. We use solid wood fretboards, geared tuners, soundboxes of die-cut, 200 lb. strength corrugated cardboard. No plywood. Extra strings, rainbag and playing manual included. Perfect present for youngsters or musical friends. Prices: S24 - $44, group discounts available. Hearing is believing, so we offer DPN readers a 30-day free trial. We'll even pay the return shipping if you aren't satisfied. Write for a free catalog: DPN Free Trial Offer, Backyard Music, P.O. Box 9047, New Haven, C T 06532 or call 203/4695756 from 7 a.m. - 11p.m.

Watch for a new book! Subject: C h o r d s ^ g ^ J

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David Cross

32 ? Dulcimer Players News

D u l c i m e r

C l u b s

Greater Pinelands Dulcimer Society Christopher Mock 1021 S . Main S l Pleasantville, NJ 08232 609/645-1786 IstTues. HDand MD

Dulcimer Association of Albany Gail Gates R.D. 2, Goldfood Road Scotia, NY 12302 518/399-3010 3rd Tues. Occasional house concerts

S e a Shore People Becky Newman 2106 Park Drive Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 210/295-2572 Every Wed. eve. New group

New York City Dulcimer Club Valerie Battey 339 Walton St. W Hempstead, NY 11552

New York Area Hammer Dulcimer Collective Steve Schneider 138 Haverstraw Rd. Congers, NY 10920 914/268-8809 Flower City Dulcimer Club Peggy Begenisich 234 Castleman Road Rochester, NY 14620 716/461-2908 Meet once a month/beg. welcome

Buffalo Mountain Dulcimer Club Linda M. Hall 219 Crestwood Lane Williamsville, NY 14221 716/698-6370 Sunday afternoons Cincinnati Dulcimer Society Marilynn Kraft 1279 Alwil Drive Cincinnati, OH 45215

Cincinnati Folk Life Nina Dryer 210 East 8th Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 513/681-9393

Firelands Dulcimer Society Harry Debevec 548 High Street Elyria, OH 44035 216/323-9492

Whitewater Dulcimer Society Marge Lotton 5800 Dry Fork Rd., Box B Cleves, OH 45002 513/376-4686

Project Joy Dulcimer Club Joe Zsigray 307 West Ave. Elyria, OH 44035 216/323-2777 3rd Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Central Ohio Dulcimer Learning Exchange Andy Beyer POBox 141111 Columbus, OH 43214 614/444-1767 4th Thurs. Beginners encouraged. Mountain Dulcimer Society of Dayton Vera Fisher 408 Schuyler Dayton, OH 45429 513/293-2287 1st SaL, Carriage Hill Farm. Beg. welcome

&AomJ&,

Over 20 years of musical instrument research and innovation. Hammer dulcimers including sopranos, chromatics, bass and cymbalom. Also, the fine line of Dusty Strings hammer dulcimers and harps. Dulcimer Records and cassettes, too! Write for free brochure.

Rizzetta Music Dept. D P.O. Box 510 Inwood, W V 25428

D i r e c t o r y

North Shore Dulcimer Players Mary Moeller 26230 Oriole Euclid, OH 44132 216/731-3577 2nd Tuesday at Euclid Library The Dulcimer Society of Trumbull County Rose Jamison 3108 Eagle Creek Road Leavittsburg, OH 44430 216/898-6384 lstFri(HD), 4thFri(MD)

tiiiJcimek At&tutb!

We appreciate your help in making Larkin's Dulcimer Book the new standard in self-instruction methods. Now in its eighth printing, it has helped many thousands of people learn to play the mountain dulcimer in an informative and enjoyable way. Available from your local dealer or by mail order, the 103 page spiral bound book is still only $9.95, the 74 minute companion cassette $7.98 and the book-tape combo $16.95. I f you order from us, please add $1.50 shipping and include payment. Thanks again! Ivory Palaces Music 3141 Spottswood Ave. Memphis, 77V 38111 901/323-3509

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Spring 1990 ? 33

D u l c i m e r Great Black Swamp Dul. Club Anna Selfridge 3355 Fort Amanda Road Lima, OH 45805 419/991-1656 1st SaL OSU J. McLean Reed Hall

Springfield Dulcimer Gathering Lee Spears 6956 Nagley Road S. Charleston, OH 45368 Third Sunday Gathering Gail R. Reed 136 Letts Avenue Sunbury, OH 43074 614/965-5102 All acoustic music, esp. MD

Buckeye Hammer Dulcimer Society Bemice Campbell Mansfield, OH 419/896-2808 1st Thurs. at Kingwood center Canton Area Hammer Dulcimer & Friends Club Joanne Fox 5690 Under Circle North Canton, OH 44721 216/492-2646 2nd Friday/Instruction and sharing Mansfield Dulcimer Club Wayne Emery or Walt Clark River Drive Prospect, OH 43342 3rd Thurs. Kingwood Cen. Gatehouse

C l u b s

West Jefferson, Ohio Dulcimer Gathering Lloyd Beckett 859 Taylor Blair Rd., NE W.Jefferson, OH 43162 Central Ohio Hammered Dulcimer Society Lauren McEleney 72 Electric Ave., Apt C Westerville, OH 43081 614/891-0924 1st Tuesday

D i r e c t o r y

Oklahoma City Traditional Music Association Jean Roberts 3723 Newport Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405/946-5233 1 st Saturday/Workshops, jam sessions

Clarion Dulcimer Club Sally Ringland R.D. 2, Box 176 Clarion, PA 16214 814/226-5674 4th Wednesday

Indian Territory Dulcimer Celebration Dennis Moran P.O. Box 471532 Tulsa, OK 74145 918/744-8928 3rd SaL Visitors we.'come. July FesL Willamette Valley Dulcimers Gretchen Amann Voll 14605 NE Mulligan CL Aurora, OR 97002 Camp Crescendo Dulcimer Club Sylvia Chapman 3360 Riverbanks Rd. Grants Pass, OR 97527 503/479-2598 3rd Fri. Junerivercampout

J e a n ' s

Frosty Valley Dulcimer Friends Helen Miller 713 Bloom Road Danville, PA 17821 717/275-2642 Other instr. welcome. All levels Off The Wall Dulcimer Society Marcia Bowers 10 S. Broad S l Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717/697-2748 1st Sunday/newsletter Allegheny Dulcimer Club Dorothy S. Buchanan 7616 Waverly S l Pittsburgh, PA 15221 1st Sun. MD/HD. Sponsor July FesL

D u l c i m e r

continues

S h o p

P.O. BOX 18. HIGHWAY 32 COSBY, TENNESSEE 37722 Phone:

SERVING

THE NEEDS OF THE FOLK AND HOMEMADE

(615)

487 - SS43

MUSIC WORLDS

@ HAMMERED & MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS ® BOWED & P L U C K E D

PSALTERIES

S p e c i a l i z i n g i n h a n d c r a f t e d f o l k i n s t r u m e n t s and e v e r y t h i n g f o r them -• FINISHED INSTRUMENTS, KITS, BUILDERS' SUPPLIES, CASES, ACCESSORIES, BOOKS, RECORDINGS, INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, FOLK TOYS AND A VARIETY OF HAND CRAFTS. Our c a t a l o g o f f e r s a u n i q u e l y d i v e r s e s e l e c t i o n f o r y o u r musical needs Catalog $1.00

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order

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34 v Dulcimer Players News

D u l c i m e r Sawmill Dulcimer Players Evvy Carter Nichols Route 2, Box 84-B Pulaski, PA 16143

Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club Melanie May 136 Brandeis Lane Oak Ridge, TN 37830 615/481-3335 3rd Fri. (3rd Sun. during Jan-Mar)

Saudi Strummers Arlene Leach OPI-50-20 Sadaf Box 10025 Al-Jubail, Al-Senaujah 31961 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Each Sunday afternoon

Lone Star State Dulcimer Soc. Linda Thompson 1517 Laurel wood Denton, TX 76201 817/387-4001 2nd Saturday/Irving. TX (D-FW area). Festivals

Dunbar Cava Dulcimer Players Bill and Genie Moore 618 Idle wood Dr. Clarksville, TN 37043 615/645-1640

Hill Country Dulcimer Society Mark Baumgartner 413 E. College SL Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Bays Mountain Dulcimer Soc. P.O. Box 3033 Kingsport, TN 37664 2nd Thurs, Sept-May.

Gourd OK

North Harris County Dulcimer Society Lou Jones 200 N. Cherry Tomball, TX 77375 713/351-7859 Other acoustic instru. welcome. Beginners welcome.

Music I

C l u b s

Presents

D i r e c t o r y

Dulcimer Dis-Organization of Greater Washington Keith Young 3815Kendale Road Annandale, VA 22003 703/941-1071 No reg. Meeting/Workshops, Cam pouts Rowdy Appalachian Music Players Society Linda DePcrro 822 Cascade Dr. Newport News, VA 23602 804/872-7839 M l Dulcimer/1 st Thursday Very Amateur Music Players Society Linda DePerro 822 Cascade Dr. Newport News, VA 23602 804/872-7839 HD/Williamsburg & Newport News meetings

Tri-State Mt. Dulcimer Society J. R. Thompson 605 South Terrace Huntington, WV 25705 304/525-9228 Last Thurs. of month Mountain Dulcimer Club Patty Loo man 228 Maple Ave. Mannington, WV 26582 304/986-2411 Rainey Hill Dulcimer Players Paul and Patty Beagle RD l.Box 151 Nw Cumberland. WV 26047 304/718-7251 •

All instrumental music played on vintage acoustic instruments. ORISON

OB LB I ' m

Loudoun Valley Dulcimer Club Alice Power L . V Comm. Center/320 W. School PurceUvUle. VA 22132 703/338-4122 Meet each Thurs at 4:30 p.m.

OCTOBER COUNTY cm ioi Neal Heiman—Contemporary, ancient and traditional instrumental music

\i \

Cassette. Compact Dot aid If

THE DREAM OF THE MANATEE gm iob Neal Heiman/Joe Weed—A new work ol contemporary and traditional i tal muse featumg Km i I Lorraine Outsit among < and Compact Disc

THE War/or T»Wevacasei

DULCIMER Wizardry Ociclu Wcl*>lcl

MINI

III K\ l

K.Ill's

DULCIMER WIZARDRY gm 102 Cecelia Webster—An edeebe Mend ol traditional and contemporary instrumental music on the dulcimer Cassette ORISON cm io4 Instrumental Celtic and contemporary instrumental music CasstUt and Compact Disc WALTZ OF THE WHIPPOORWILL #mi Joe Weed—Each melody s based on an actual bird song Cassette. Compact Disc and LP

WELLYN gm .07 Robert ForceftAlbert d Ossche—The double dulcimer magic ol Robert Force and Albert d Ossche Cassette

BOOKS & ACCESSORIES Hal Leonard Dulcimer Book ii2 95 (with 60-mmute cassette) NORTHERN LIGHTS gm 103 (phosphor broriM wound) Dulcimer Chord Book $5 95 Steve CoulterftHarm Moore— Loop-end Set $3 98 Bal-end Set 13 98 Beatles Dulcimer Book $7 95 Performing Celtic, baroque and contemGourd Music Dulcimer Strings—sel ol lour, manufactured by D'Addano andAl cassettes and LPs are $9 98 Compact Discs are S1< 98 Al books are as porary musK on harp and hammer packaged to our specifications 2- 010 |plain steel). 1-014 (plan steel): 1-024 marked Al orders over $30 00 are shipped free freight via UP S Shipping duiomer. cello, oboe woodwinds, guitar fees $1 00 lor the first item, SOC for each item thereafter and percussion Cassette and Compact Disc GOURD MUSIC P.O. Box 585 Felton, CA 95018 408/425-4939

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B e g i n n e r s

Spring 1990 n 35

C o r n e r

Over T^he Tune D-A-d (If tuned D-A-A, you can play the melody on the bass string)

\ a i r rc 7

D E

F # A G F # E

I A

2 3

r B

I A

2 3

D E

S F # G

rj r ] j n i

- ^ - ^

Traditional

F # G

Many thanks to all who made

Easiest instrument in the world to play

THE FIRST E V E R

Handmade Musical Wooden Spoons

MEMPHIS DULCIMER a resounding success. Plans for the SECOND IN A ROW

riiw

FEsmmL

with Jean Ritchie, Larkin Kelley Bryant, Neal Hellman, Cathy Barton, Dave Para, Kendra Ward and m o r e Sept. 27 29,1990 Workshops: hammered and mountain dulcimer Vendor inquiries welcomed For complete information, write to: SECOND IN A ROW MEMPHIS DULCIMER FESTIVAL 95 N. EVERGREEN

MEMPHIS, TENN. 38104

W Perfect accompaniment to jigs & reels, Irish music, bluegrass, children's songs, etc. ^ Unique design will have you playing in minutes ^

Non toxic hand rubbed finish is safe for children

Handcrafted from your choice of: Oak, Cherry or Blackwalnut. (Please specify when ordering) To Order: Send $16.95

(Free Shipping)

Steven Catania • Inventor & Craftsman R.D. 1, Box 225-D • M i l l m o n t , Pa. 17845 (717) 922-4487 Enjoyment guaranteed or your money back

(901)725 6976

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MAIN S T R E E T i

The

C A S E C O M P A N Y A decade of protecting cherished Hammer Dulcimers with custom made, guaranteed to fit cases. We use heavy duty YKK zippers, waterproof cordura, foam and hollowfill insulation, and coated taffeta for the lining. Designed for Durability, Protection and Comfort. (Yours and your Dulcimer's!) Semi-hard case option available. Write for free brochure.

BOX 81 • V I C T O R , I D A H O •

New

No.

9 is

here!

The Kitchem Musician's Favourite ScoHclh Measures Just when you thought you had them all. Written in standard notation, set in keys that can be played on standard dulcimers, these 25 tunes from Scotland and the Shetlands include strathspeys, jigs, reels and pipe tunes. Tunes include Atholl Highlanders, Down the Brae, the Glasgow Gaelic Club, Jack Broke da Prison Door, Miss Drummond of Perth's Favourite Scotch Measure ( and harmony part), My Love is But a Lassie Yet, How She Got Up in the Morning, and many more!

834SS

208 • 787 • 2909

$5.00 postpaid See the DPN classified ads for previous books in the Kitchen Musician Series, and don't forget....

Books for Mountain Dulcimer by Tom Baehr

New cassette companion to the book No, S Mostly M s h Airs

• New Tunes/Old Friends $4.95 19 Songs and Dances, including Old Joe

e f l L j p

Clark, Soldiers' Joy and Wildwood Flower.

22 of the tunes in the book, played through in strict tempo and straightforward manner so you can learn and play along. Sara Johnson on hammer dulcimer, with guitar, cittern, fiddle and keyboard.

• A Pleasant Addiction $5.95 28 Dances and Songs, including Haste to the Wedding, Over The Waterfall and New Century.

60 minute cassette $10.50 postpaid

Special • Both Books • $10.00 ppd. from Hogfiddle Press

SARA JOHNSON, 449 Hidden Valley Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45215

34 Patrick Road • Tewksbury, MA 01876

Ian

Portable • Adjustable

lnh^Biteo/

• Collapsible

Dulcimer

Hammer

Stand

Now Available with Adjustable Playing Angle! "Fiendishly

—Sam

Performers

i m p

"'""

Tom B^cKr fifteen $o\o Selections DoUmj - "Real-Time Cassette - CrO H<,5 + ii.50 T.&H t

HagfiMte

Press

P.aita inUWohurnjrUO[bO\

Clever"

lii/scttn

Model

Standard

Features: Adjustable height for playing • while standing or sitting • Adjustable playing angle from • horizontal to 45° (Performer's Model) • Completely disassembles without tools in less than 30 seconds. Performer's Model:

$175

• Adjustable height and angle • Solid walnut or • Solid oak (please specify! plus SI5 shipping and handling

Model

Sturdy and Lightweight Highest quality construction Rubber bumpers keep dulcimer secure Large knobs provide easy grip for securing height adjustment

Larry Halt

976 West Poolhill, '400 Claremont, CA 91711 (714) 625-8005

Standard Model:

$125

• Adjustable height • Fixed angle • Solid oak plus S15 shipping and handling

(kits also available...deduct $20 for either model, plus $15 s/h) Full return privilege within 10 days if this is not the beat, moat versatile stand that vou have ever used.

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Spring 1990 ? 37

STANLEY HICKS Musician • Instrument Maker •

Storyteller

by Jim Thompson Boone, North Carolina

• DAVID SCHNAUFER • "AMERICA'S DULCIMER CHAMPION" I DEBUT CD I

DULCIMER DELUXE <sfl«u DULCIMER PLAYER <Sfl »2) $10 each; postpaid

• •

DULCIMER PLAYER DELUXE isfl .3) Contains 73 minutes of music from 1st two tapes $16 postpaid

S F L T A P E S & D I S C S • BOX 120316 • NASHVILLE. TN 37212 Dealer Inquiries Solicited (615) 356-4684 •

CUSTOM-MADE C O N C E R T D U L C I M E R S D E S I G N E D BY DAVID S C H N A U F E R

* * * * *

Harmonic or chromatic models in two sizes Built-in Baggs pickups available Custom-fitted, flight-approved, hardshell cases Built by noted Nashville luthier Michael "Moses" Scrivner Made of Hawaiian koa wood or maple & spruce

MBM MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS • 2614-B B E L C O U R T • NASHVILLE, TN 37212 (615) 292-8470 • Write or call for more details, pics

DAVID SCHNAUFER SIGNATURE STRING LINES THE DULCIMER SCALE BOOK ("Road map" to playing in D-A-D tuning) THESE PRODUCTS REPRESENT THE HIGHEST QUALITY THAT MONEY CAN BUY! KINETIC MANAGEMENT

tanley Hicks, a Wataugh County, North Carolina native who gained international renown for his homemade instruments, dancing and playing and the endless wealth of stories he kept in his head, died at his home on Stone Mountain, November 7, 1989. Tom Stanley Hicks was born on October 12,1911, on Beech Mountain, not many miles from the home where he spent his final years. Both his parents, Roby Monroe Hicks and Buna Presncll Hicks, were well-known singers and musicians. Roby Hicks was recorded by the pioneer folk song collectors, Frank and Anne Warner. Mrs. Hicks was an accomplished fiddler and ballad singer, she was featured in the book. Some Ballad Folks, by Dr. Thomas Burton. Stanley Hicks was probably best known as an instrument maker, producing many fretless banjos and dulcimers in a small shop next to his home. He learned instrument making as a teenager from his grandfather, Samuel Hicks, and his father. When his health began to fail in the 1970's, he began working at this craft full time. He used native woods - mostly walnut, maple and cherry - to make his instruments and made virtually every part of them. The banjo heads were usually made from groundhog skins, painstakingly stretched over a metal ring that was also hand-fashioned. All his instruments, which he stamped his name on, received one last test before being delivered. Stanley Hicks called those that wouldn't play to his satisfaction "western" ones, and would rework them until they suited him. " I started playing to help sell the instruments," he once said. But his perforcontinued on the next page

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38 K Dulcimer Players News

Stanley Hicks continued mances proved so popular that he soon became as active as a singer and picker as he was a maker. Performances by Stanley Hicks appeared on the Foxfire Records' It Still Lives, and he was featured in his own album, Stanley Hicks Live. A videotape, featuring his telling of several Jack Tales, forms part of the collection of the Appalachian Cultural Center at Appalachian State University in Boone. In 1980, the North Carolina Folklore Society presented Stanley Hicks with its highest honor, the Brown-Hudson Award. A federal honor followed in 1983, when he was presented with the National Heritage Fellowship of the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts. Best known for his music and tales, Stanley Hicks was also an accomplished herbalist, who regretted that no one collected the old lore about native plants into a book. Even though he gained national fame, Stanley Hicks worked as a farmer as long

as his health permitted, growing cabbage, tobacco and other crops on his farm on Stone Mountain, near Bethel. Visitors from around the world took the trip up Hatlie Hill Road to the modest farm house and adjoining workshop that Stanley Hicks called home. Often, they might follow his own colorful directions: "Drive as far as you can drive, then walk as far as you can walk, then get down and crawl as far as you can crawl and that's where I stay at." Those who made the journey recall there was always time for conversation and a chance to learn a great deal about the mountains and the traditions of their people. Many of the Hicks family traditions came from the British Isles, and recent research shows that most of the Jack Tales found in Watauga County and a larger number of old ballads were brought to the area by one of Stanley Hicks' ancestors.

Personal R e c o l l e c t i o n s I knew Stanley Hicks during the last five years of his life, and readers will for-

give me if I flesh out the barebones of his biography with some recollections of this remarkable man. When we visited him in his home up on Stone Mountain near Bethel, there always seemed to be more time. Somehow, amidst the stream of banjos and dulcimers, he always had time to sit and talk on the porch; spend the afternoon and don't leave yet. He told me once how he'd tried to play his mother'sfiddle."First the cat ran away, then the dog ran away, then the mule ran away, and I put it back under the bed and quit," he said. Sort of. Except it took five minutes to say it, and nothing I could write would ever begin to explain the way he told it, his gestures, looks, everything. That one sentence would stretch to five minutes effortlessly, and you'd — like he said — "laugh til you cry." Stanley Hicks never spent much time in school, but I have rarely met a smarter man, or one who knew more about the world he lived in. Education, to most people, ends when you get your piece of paper - whether it's a high school diploma or a

THE AUTOHARPOHOLIC® THE INTERNATIONAL AUTOHARP QUARTERLY JOURNAL

Reading The Autoharpoholic always makes me smile... ML., Artist's Model, Florence, Italy Since 1980 The Autoharpoholic magazine has created the only international network of serious autoharpers by uniting players in all fifty states and a dozen foreign countries. It has bonded casual players, professional musicians, luthiers, clubs, teachers, and festivals into one unified community. Read by more than a thousand players throughout the world, The Autoharpoholic is still the only complete source of information on all brands of autoharps, autoharp-related events, and music for players at all levels. " The Autoharpoholic is to autoharpers what Dulcimer Players News is to

DULCIMER WORKSHOP mountain dulcimers

•

b o w e d psal tries

28 Dunsmore Avenue • Black Mountain, NC 28711 • 704/669-5162

dulcimer players. It gets people together. * Jean Ritchie

$12 year (U.S.). $15 by First Class Mail. (Sample issue $3.85 in U.S.) $14.50 In Canada; $17 other foreign. ($U.S. only.) Airmail. i.a.d. PUBLICATIONS, BOX 504-D, BRISBANE, CA 94005.

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Spring 1990 1 39

doctorate. But Stanley Hicks never stopped learning. For virtually all his 78 years, he absorbed first the traditions of his family, then the skills of a farmer and craftsman, and then the special skills of the outdoorsman. In six years or so, you can get a Ph.D.; to be like Stanley Hicks was, you must spend your whole life using the world around you as a classroom. Two particular memories stand out. The first time I met Stanley Hicks, he performed at a church here in Watauga County, and ended his performance with "Amazing Grace." Unamplified, except by the old-style, solid faith of the man, and echoed by the wooden walls of the church, it was deeply moving, and I cannot hear that song without thinking of him. The other is a very happy recollection. Every year, Stanley Hicks "capped the stack" at the annual Dulcimer Concert in Boone with his own style offlat-footdancing. If you missed it, well, there's no helping i t We won't see that kind of dancing — or the kind of man Stanley Hicks was — ever again. 0

The Maaic Dulcimer

A complete instructional book for the mountain dulcimer by this noted teacher & performer. Lorraine draws on her 20 years of playing & 10 years of teaching to distill her expertise, which is unmatched in the dulcimer world, into this primer, text & mini-thesis. The 38 new arrangements with tabulature will provide even the experienced player with new material. Woodcuts by Mary Azarian illuminate the book. 130 pages — $14.50 p.p. The Magic Dulcimer Cassette is a chance to hear Lorraine sing & play 17 of her favorites from the book. It is also a chance to play along, learn the tunes by ear or just listen. 40 minutes — $10.50 p.p. 'Book & cassette $21.50 p.p.

YELLOW M O O N PRESS P.O. Box 1316 Cambridge, M A 02238

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HP^B

Fretted

D u l c i m e r

by Lorraine Lee

In the last column I described the steps involved in writing very simple dulcimer tablature. Here, from that column, are the first two measures of "Freres Jacques" arranged in drone style for four equidistant strings:

_u o A

o o

<s o o

o o 3

- 5 -

o o

o o 3

The tab indicates that each melody note is the same length, a single beat, and there are four beats per measure. The first string is fretted and the remaining strings are sounded unfretted as the melody is played. Now let's examine some other ways of arranging the same two measures of melody. First, we will add harmony notes to be played on strings that were sounded unfretted before:

_J2 O

2 o

o Q 2 __2 o 1 L i

4 5

o 2

This simple pattern can be varied by picking, rather than brushing across all the strings. Rhythmically, each quarter note is divided into a pair of eighth notes:

l i l t

.n 1

4 U J

4 *

—

'2 1 ^ 1 mmm mmm

4 —

To play tab accurately, do not sound a string unless it is indicated. In The example above, sound only the suing indicated and do not brush across the remaining strings. Single string notes can be finger-picked or sounded with a flatpick. I use a flatpick. When playing pairs of eighth notes, I alternate the direction of the pick

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—

Spring 1990 ? 41

for a smooth sound. I find flatpicking slightly louder and crisper than fingerpicking; useful qualities when playing with others. With practice, it is possible to move easily from flatpicking to strumming within a tune for an interesting shift in dynamics:

101 1 XL)

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1 1

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1 1

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Finally, here is a fairly complex arrangement of mis familiar tune to test your tab-reading skills. In addition to quarter notes (one beat) and eighth notes (a half beat each), which we considered above, the tune includes half notes. A half note has the time value of two quarter notes. In tablature, I use a dash to indicate that a note is to be extended for an additional beat:

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*2 o

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TTN - t 5

Ron

Ewing

Dulcimers

You Can Teach Yourself Dulcimer

224 East Maynard • Columbus, Ohio 43202 « 614-263-7246 ew Address. Old Phone. The song remains the same.

Book and Tape by Madeline MacNeil Mel Bay Publications

Dulcimer Capos: Wood $8.50, Rosewood/Pearl Snowflake Inlay, $12.50 Gold or Black Anodized Aluminum, $15.50 (Prices Postpaid)

A comprehensive learning experience for beginning to intermediate fretted dulcimer players. Book (95 pages), cassette tape (ca. 90 minutes)

Send S A S E for 1989 Brochure.

HANDCRAFTED, SOLID W O O D MOUNTAIN DULCIMERS FROM $ 1 5 9 . 9 5

Book or tape separately: $9.95 each Book and tape set: $19.90 Shipping: $1.50 for the set, $1.25 for book or tape alone Virginia Residents: please include 4 112% sales tax

BOOKS a n d T A P E S WALNUT - CHERRY - CEDAR SITKA

SATISFACTION MISSOURI

SPRUCE

OR MONEY

BACK

FREE BROCHURE - PICTURES SEND

S.A.S.E.

JOE SANGUINETTE

3 0 1 Cliff Drive

Make checks payable to Roots & Branches Music

Branson. Missouri 6 5 6 1 6 - (417)334-5388

YOUVE NEVER HEARD HAMMERED

DULCIMER

MUSIC UKE THIS!

r e g r e t s Danny Carnahan & Robin Petrie with • The • Missing

•

Pieces

Robin's trademark jazzy 'freestyle' dulcimer playing and sultry lead vocals shine throughout this seamless 10-song collection o f new ballads and contemporary British Isles-flavored classics like " D i m m i n g o f the Day" by Richard Thompson. Danny's o w n stinging songs o f love, winners and losers have never been closer to the heart. It's acoustic music w i t h a k i c k — w i t h guitar, octave mandolin, fiddle, string bass and drums i n a crystalline production. A n d it's the latest album and most daring new musical direction by these two longtime veterans o f the international folk scene. "Stunning!" -BBC Radio. England "Excellently-written and arranged songs & two voices interwoven with the instrumentalfabric make for afresh and winning sound. Four stars!" -Oakland Tribune "Delicious, gorgeous hammered dulcimer—with a special bow going to Robin, who has never sung so sweetly." -Down Home Review CD's $ 16, cassettes $11, including ux and postage. Send check made exit to "Danny Carnahan & Robin Petrie" c/o DNA Records, PO Box 2615, San Rafael CA 94912. Or just drop a line with your name & address if you'd like to be notified of future concert dates and other recordings.

What's

New

edited by Carrie Crompton

Christmas Celebration Dallas Cline, Common Treasury Publishing, PO Box 7223, Bloomfieid, CT 06002 (book) Carols, chants, Christmas songs and rounds arranged as solos and duets for the mountain dulcimer. Includes Huron Indian Carol, Noel Nouvelet and Hail, Eastern Kings. Pachelbel's Canon I n D Major Transcribed by Dallas Cline, Common Treasury Publishing, PO Box 7223, Bloomfield,CT 06002 (book) >*< Tablature for the mountain dulcimer and notation for the hammered dulcimer and other instruments. Homesick Gypsy Gloria Hays, W7488 Breezy Pt., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 (casseue) A recording of hammer dulcimer music by mulu-instrumentalist and singer Gloria Hays. It includes O'Carolan's Welcome, Midnight In Moscow, Do You Have Songs, and Michigan Waltz.

Spring 1990 ? 43

Dulcimer Player Deluxe David Schnaufer, c/o John Lomax III, 757 Brownlee Dr., Nashville, TN 37205 (CD) This compact disc is a compilation of the music from David's two cassettes, Dulcimer Deluxe and Dulcimer Player. Christmas Presence Wayne Seymour and Fred Reynolds, Piney Forks Music, 101 Cove Road, Reidsville, NC 27320 (cassette) This tape features the mountain dulcimer, flute, guitar, hammer dulcimer, mandolin, recorder, bass and other instruments. Matters o f the Heart Heidi Muller, Cascadia Music, PO Box 95884, Seattle, WA 98145 (CD, cassette) Heidi uses mainly her guitar and vocal work rather than the mountain dulcimer on Matters of the Heart. She is joined by such artists as Rick Ruskin, Cary Black, Laurie Riley and Nancy Rumbel. Beyond the Shadows Golden Bough, PO Box 818, Pacifica, CA 94044 (CD, cassette, album) »*• Traditional and original compositions featuring harp, guitar and vocals.

folk harp music inventory. Write for free catalog. Note-Ably Yours, 6865 Scarff Road. New Carlisle, OH 45344.

Instructional Books, Videos, Cassettes, and much more. Free discount catalogs. Elderly Instruments, 1100 N. Washington, POB 14210BH27. Lansing, MI 48901. 517/372-7890. New Tape! Dulcimer Dancing. Angel Chiango (Hammer Dulcimer) and Dan Liechty (Guitar, Vocal). Over 50 minutes of beautifully arranged traditional tunes on highest quality chromium DolbyB tape, direct digital recording, real time duplication. $8.50 plus $1.50 shipping. Angel Chiango, Box 41013, Philadelphia, PA 19127-0013. Note-Ably Yours: Mail order for books, records, cassettes, videos, musical gifts, jewelry, stationery, folk instruments. Vast Celtic and

Just Among Friends Wire Kwire, Rt. 7, Box 251, Blountville, TN 37617 (cassette) Wire Kwire consists of Linda Waltner (hammered dulcimer, viola, violin and vocals), Tammie Davis (hammered dulcimer, viola, violin and vocals) and Ellen Matthews (guitar, banjo and vocals). Selections include Liberty, Fiddler's March, Morgan Megan, Tuesday Night Waltz, and Shenandoah Falls. We Shall Overcome PeteSeeger, Columbia Records (CD, cassette) This double CD set presents the complete live recording of Pete Seeger's Carnegie Hall concert of June 8,1963. (See News & Notes for more details). •

Appalachian Dulcimers Hancrafted by Keith K. Young 3815 Kendale Road. Annandale. Virginia 22003 Phone: 703/941-1071

Classifieds

Classifieds ads are 40( per word, payable in advance. There is a 20% discount for classified ads running unchanged in 4 or more consecutive issues.

No Regrets Danny Carnahan and Robin Petrie, DNA Records, 725 Pomona Ave., Albany, CA 94706 (CD, cassette) *< The hammered dulcimer is used as a lead instrument in a free mix of traditional themes, jazz improvisation and vocals. Danny and Robin are joined by The Missing Pieces, an acoustic quartet.

-O o- _

Wildwood Music has discount prices on dulcimers, C.F. Martin guitars and other beautiful stringed instruments! 672 While woman St., Coshocton. Ohio 43812. 614/622-4224.

The Hornpipe. Bimonthly magazine covering folk music throughout the South—16 states plus DC. Feature articles, news, reviews, extensive performance calendar. $12 annually; sample issue $2. Write: P.O. Box 1618, Lexington. S C 29072.

New and Different, Mountain Dulcimer Capos from Sweetwater Dulcimer Accessories. The finest non-breakable capo available. $8.95 includes postage. Write PO Box 1572, Wilmington, V T 05363.

continued on the next page

Finely Designed Hand Crafted F o l k Toys. Limber Jack, Dog, Pony, Bear, Frog, Rooster, Lamb, Unicom and Dinosaur. $11.95 each includes shipping. Jean's Dulcimer Shop, P.O. Box 8, Cosby, T N 37722.

Fine tuners Fine Craftsmaixship Accurate

pitch

Easy action

Suspended bridge

Contact Keith Young for more details.

44 -jr Dulcimer Players News

Recording a n album? Demo? CD? Concert? Oasis Recording is an outstanding place to record acoustic music. Spacious studio, 1928 Stein way Grand, great microphones and outboard gear. Extensive experience with acoustic music and at capturing memorable dulcimer sounds. Rates as low as $28/hour. Call for a free brochure, or send $2.00 (refundable) for acoustic sampler cassette. 301/588-4133. Box 7256, Silver Spring, MD 20907-7256. Also, see display ad on page 4 of this issue. Sing OutI T h e Folk Song Magazine: Sharing Songs Since 1950. Sing Out! provides a diverse and entertaining selection of traditional and contemporary folk music. Each issue contains 20 songs, over 100 pages, feature articles, interviews, record and book reviews, instrumental "teach-ins," Plus columns by Pete Seeger and Michael Cooney. $15 (1 yr.) $25 (2 yrs.) $35 (3 yrs.) Sustaining Membership: $30, $50 or $100/yr. Sing Out! Box 5253-D, Bethlehem, PA 18015. The Kitchen Musician's Occasional for Hammer Dulcimer, Etc.: Booklets in standard notation, some with tablature. New #9: Favourite Scotch Measures, 25 strathspeys, reels, jigs, pipe tunes, $4.00; #1 Waltzes, 16 waltzes and airs, $3.00; #4 Fine Tunes, 32 old standards, $4.00; #5 MosUy Irish Airs, 29 tunes $4.00 and new 60 minute cassette Tape #5 companion to Irish Airs, 22 tunes from the book, $9.00; newly revised #6 Jigs, with 27 jigs, $4.00; #7 Michigan Tunes, 26 tunes collected from traditional players, $4.00; #8 Twenty-Eight Country Dances, English country dance music and instructions, $4.00. Add $1.00 post for one item, 25 cents each additional. Sara Johnson, 449 Hidden Valley, Cincinnati, OH 45215. Also Available from The Kitchen Musician: Newly released cassette Green Groves of Erin, by Ten Strike!, six-person Cincinnati ensemble, a voyage into "New Folk," blending traditional and contemporary instrumental and vocal music of the British Isles and North America. Features two hammer dulcimers, violin and viola, guitars, cittern, keyboards, Dobro, mandolin, banjo and vocals...from the haunting "Green Groves of Erin," to the stately "Duke of Kent's Waltz," rollicking dance medleys, even a little 'Tubular Bells." $10.50 postpaid c/o Sara Johnson, 449 Hidden Valley Lane, Cincinnati, OH 45215. The Bowed Psaltery Instruction A n d Song Book, by Jean Schilling. Beginners' playing instructions, care of the psaltery and bow, tuning, string replacement, and seventysix songs, with chords—American, English.Scottish, and Irish favorites, hymns, carols, and O'Carolan tunes. $9.95 postpaid from Crying Creek Publishers. P.O. Box 8, Cosby.TN 37722.

T h e Hammered Dulcimer Handbook, by Kendra Ward-Bence. 86 pages of instruction, information, and tunes. $16.00 book only, $21.00 book with cassette. Add $2.00 postage. Kendra Ward-Bence, Rt. 1, 31032 SR 325. Langsville, OH 45741. Instrument Builders: Our respected quarterly journal American Luther ie is entirely devoted to building and repairing dulcimers, guitars, mandolins, lutes, violins, and other string instruments. We also have instrument plans including a hammer dulcimer. Write for complete info, or send $30 ($40 overseas) for membership. G A L , 8222 S. Park, Tacoma, WA 98408. Cymbaloms: Chromatic hammered dulcimer with damper pedal. Alex Udvary, 2115 W. Warner, Chicago. Illinois 60618. Every Hammered Dulcimer should have a music rack, same as pianos. It should be a complement to the instrument, not a makeshift. Russ Carlisle. 374 Alberta, Pontiac. MI 48055.313/335-5678. Partnership Opportunity. We are looking for various individuals to invest in and manage folk music shops in the following possible areas: Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona; York/Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Branson, Missouri; Boone and Jacksonville, North Carolina, or other suggestions for suitable locations around the country. Size of investment will vary depending on exact location and shop size. A potential partner should be reasonably adept at playing hammered or mountain dulcimer and have a love for these instruments they would want to share with others. We will provide location selection assistance, inventory, systems, training, and shop setup. For more details, contact David Marks, Folkcraft instruments. Box 807, Winsted, CT 06098. 203/379-9857.

Cimbaloms • European, chromatic hammered dulcimers with dampers and pedal. The ultimate in sound! We have the largest selection of these magnificent instruments worldwide - in all sizes, new and used. We also keep a comprehensive stock of playing stick, strings, music and recordings. Our premises include a full repair and restoration shop (we also build cimbaloms) as well as a teaching studio where you can learn a wide range of musicfromEuropean conservatory trained teachers. We are the only source for the highest quality extended range concert cimbaloms. Visit our shope. call or write: A. I. Eppler Ltd., PO Box 16513. Seattle, WA 98116-0513 U.S.A. Telephone: 206/9322211. Deering, stelling, Martin, Gibson, Dobro, Flatiron, Guild, Wildwood. Find out why we're the world's largest fretted instruments store. Free discount catalog. Elderly Instruments, 1100 N. Washington, POB 14210BH27. Lansing, MI 48901. 517/372-7890. T h e H a m m e r e d Dulcimer Handbook, by Kendra Ward-Bence. 86 pages of instruction, information, and tunes. $16.00-book only, $21.00-book with cassette. Add $2.00 postage. Kendra Ward-Bence, Rt. 1,31032 SR 325, Langsville, Ohio 45741.

Close-out LP sale! We have some LP formats of our recordings left, and will sell them for $5 each, postage included. Circles (solo guitar music of Seth Austen) and Madeline MacNeil's recordings Christmas Comes Anew (singing, hammered andfretteddulcimers, and other instruments), and The Holly And The Ivy, all on the Kicking Mule label. Roots & Branches Music. PO Box 2164. Winchester, VA 22601. Dulcimer Players Wanted to form Westchester/Fairfield Counties (even New York) dulcimer club. Please call John Seidl. 914/9972534 (days). 914/761-8398 (eves). What The Hill People Say. Cassette Album by Susan Trump. A delightful collection of contemporary and traditional songs with the rural flavor of yesterday. Featuring "The Haying Song," "Blessed Quietness," "Loudonville Waltz" and more. DPN Review Spring 1989. PO Box 313, Newtonville. New York 12128. $10.25 includes postage.

illustrated catalog

$1°° Hen Hamblin P.O.Box694. Salem, Va. 24/53 ph. 703-986 1044

What's the

answer? Some days nothing seems to go right. One minute, everything is going just swimmingly and the next, you find yourself between a rock and a hard place! Whale, it's no good blubbering. For those days when the world has you on edge, flip over and curl up with an issue of the Dulcimer Players News. It's a real pick-meup and at $12 for 1 year, $22 for 2 years, a bargain. So, harpoon out to your mail box and send in your subscription.

Dulcimer Players News Post Office Box 2164 Winchester, VA 22601

POST OFFICE BOX 2164 WINCHESTER. V A 22601

(705)465-4^55

Madeline MacNeil Performance Schedule April-June

April 3-4 • Arts On The Road, Emporia, VA April 5-6 • Arts On The Road, Lunnenburg County, VA April 10 • Shenandoah Co. Historical Society, Woodstock, VA Info: 703/984-8625 April 15 • Fairfax Unitarian Church, Oakton, VA with Seth Austen and Ralph Gordon. Info: 703/242-0687 April 21 • Mt. Holly, NJ (workshops and concert) Info: 609/261-2337 April 23-27 • Spring Dulcimer Week, August Center, Elkins, WV Info: 304/636-1903 April 28-29 • Great Black Swamp Dulcimer Festival, Lima, OH. Info: 419/228-2641, ext. 254 May 1 • Aural Traditions, Chicago, IL May 4 • David Adler Cultural Center, Libertyville, IL. Info: 312/367-0707 May 5-6 • Belleville, IL (workshops and concert) May 15-16 • Arts On The Road, Gate City, VA. Info: 703/386-6118 May 20 • Concert, Sunhearth Instruments, Roaring Spring, PA June 2-3 • Farm Craft Days, Middletown, VA (with Seth Austen). Info: 703/869-2028 June 25-29 • Dulcimer Playing Workshop, ASU, Boone, NC. Info: 704/262-3045 July 8-13 • Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop, Elkins, WV. Info: 304/636-1903

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Subscribers: If your mailing label is dated 4/1/1990, that means your subscription ends with this issue. Time to renew! To keep your DPNs coming without interruption, send us your renewal before June 15, 1990. Labels dated 7/1/1990 mean you have one issue after this one. Renewing early is just fine!

the latest transition for Fretta and chums, they face the age old question-what to wear? (and how to control it).